Still Do
Bio of Dana Cummings

I grew up on a farm in rural Maine as the youngest of seven. I served six years in the Marine Corps, including Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I graduated from Thomas College in Waterville, Maine in 1999 with a Bachelor's Degree in Software Engineering. I now live in San Luis Obispo, California, I'm 39 years old, a father of four (with a son due on early April), and married to a wonderful woman named Rebecca.
I lost my leg 7 1/2 years ago in August, 2002 due to injuries sustained in a automobile accident. After being laid up for a few weeks I decided that I had to make a choice, either I could let this destroy me, or make me stronger. I chose the latter and started setting goals for what I wanted to do now that I was an amputee. With my faith, and support from friends and relatives I started back on the road to recovery.
Since losing my leg I have accomplished many things. In August, 2003, only a year after my accident, I competed in my first surfing competition, winning 4th place, and received my first trophy! I had only learned to surf in January, just 4 months after losing my leg!!! I continued competing that year, and qualified for the U.S. Western Region championships the following year. I also participated in my first half iron-man that same year. The year after losing my leg started me on the road to competing in surfing and several other sports. Since then I have participated & competed in sports such as Surfing, Wakeboarding, Water-skiing, Rock climbing, Snowboarding and Soccer which are all sports that I did not do before losing my leg. I will be competing this year in the West coast Championships and the U.S. Championships of surfing as well!

Since my accident I have also accomplished many things outside of sports. I have been to Africa to setup computer labs and help build schools. I have traveled to Israel and Europe sharing about my experiences. I opened a coffee & lounge bar, flipped houses and last year acted in my first major motion picture due out this August 2010. I am currently working on the non-profit I co-founded back in 2003 called Ampsurf, The Association of Amputee Surfers. I am the Executive Director of the program, we put together learn to surf clinics for disabled veteran and adults and children with disabilities. Our goal is to help people see their abilities and define themselves by what they can do, and not by their disabilities and what they can’t do.
I feel no matter what happens to us in life people can "still do", and do more, you just have to want it. Most everyone has the ability they just need the desire, and help in getting started. I lost my leg not my life, and I realize that I have been given a very precious gift. It is not the gift of life, but the awareness of how precious life is. I don't want to waste a moment of my time. I want to experience everything that is out there in the world. We only get one shot at it here; I plan on giving it my best effort.

To contact Dana you can email him at dcummings@ampsurf.org

Other articles:

The American Veteran- 2009 Disabled Veterans Affairs Winter Sports Clinic -National Veteran
Toes Over the Nose Two
Summer Fest
DSUSA Article for Summer Fest
Wakeboard Man
Pismo Beach Long Boarders Summer Classic 2003 Surf Comp.

Association of Amputee Surfers Copyright 2010