It was a fun-filled, beautiful fall day on Sept. 14, when hundreds of volunteers, fans and para rowers from across the nation met on the banks of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park for the annual BAYADA Regatta boat races.

Since 1983, the BAYADA Regatta has been the nation’s longest running, all-adaptive rowing competition for people with disabilities. Many participants practice and travel together with their local adaptive rowing club. Some aspire to be Paralympians; some do it for the exercise, comradery and fresh air; and nearly all enjoy rowing for its meditative benefits, saying it does wonders for their health and well-being.

Officiated by USRowing, race classifications include athletes with a specific physical impairment, a visual impairment (led by coxswain) or an intellectual impairment. A veterans’ category honors athletes who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, some with service-related injuries.

The BAYADA Regatta spotlights the importance of inclusion in sports and celebrates diverse community of people with disabilities.

For more information, visit bayada.com/regatta.