Treatment and other photos

Who is Jared Lenahan?

Jared Lenahan's life is a testament to resilience and the indomitable human spirit. In 2014, while serving as a U.S. Navy Corpsman, he faced a life-altering moment—a 50-foot fall during a climbing expedition with friends. The accident left him grappling with severe physical challenges, including 2.5 years in an electric wheelchair and 3.5 years of wearing multiple braces and external fixators. His recovery journey involved multiple surgeries and extended periods of physical therapy.

Yet, even as he navigated this arduous path, Jared never wavered in his passion for climbing. Not only did he make an awe-inspiring return to the sport, but he also excelled at paraclimbing events, earning him a spot as a four-time athlete on the US Paraclimbing Team. This remarkable comeback caught the eye of the National Ability Center and Move United, leading to his appointment as an ambassador for both organizations.

Today, Jared is broadening his horizons further, taking on outdoor climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering. He has parlayed his experiences and hard-won insights into the creation of "Climbable," an initiative aligned with the National Ability Center and Move United.

What is the program?

The Climbable program, founded by Jared Lenahan, kicks off its life-altering mission at Walter Reed Medical Center. Designed as a vital next step in the rehabilitation journey for Wounded Warriors, the program dovetails perfectly with the services provided by Walter Reed's Military Advanced Training Center. At its heart, Climbable Warfighters focuses on introducing wounded service members to the Adaptive Sports Community, enabling them not only to discover a new sport but also to join an empowering and supportive community.

This program goes beyond mere physical rehabilitation, setting its sights on equipping participants with the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to reach new athletic heights. In doing so, Climbable Warfighters offers participants a chance to discover their identity post-injury and fosters a sense of camaraderie among those with similar life experiences. The program addresses the urgent need for Wounded Warriors to find both themselves and a sense of community, particularly when faced with the life-altering challenges of severe injuries and the ensuing transition to civilian life.

The ultimate aspiration of Climbable Warfighters is to show participants that their futures are not confined by their injuries. It seeks to open doors to adaptive sports, community engagement, and potentially even competitive climbing.

To bring this vision to life, Climbable has enlisted a cadre of experts that includes Malcom Godowski, a USA Climbing Certified Level 2 coach, and athletes from the US Paraclimbing Team like Tanner Jones and Nat Vorel. Key partnerships have also been established with Harvey Naranjo at Walter Reed and Sport Rock Climbing Gym, as well as The Front Climbing Gym. The program's work is further supported by Move United and hosted by the National Ability Center, amplifying its reach and impact.