Karen Mitchell

· 2007 IFDS Disabled World Championship Winner SKUD 18 Fleet

· US Sailing Team Member 2006-09 SKUD 18 Fleet

· Seven Time Winner of Gruson/Milam Trophy for Most Outstanding Female Skipper

· Five-Time Winner of Independence Cup/North American Challenge Cup - Made US Sailing History for Winning for Five Consecutive Years

· Four Time Winner of Shake A Leg Miami Midwinter Regatta

· Three Time Winner of CRAB Cup

· Awarded Best Female Sailor in Biscayne Bay

· First Disabled Skipper to Sail in the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship and the J-22 World Championships, Key West Race Week & Miami Race Week in J-24

· Placed Fourth in the IFDS Two Person World Championships

· Only Woman to Win the Mobility Cup Single-Handedly

· Consistently Places in the Top Third for Past Eight Years in Most Regattas

· Sailing Instructor

· Role Model to Others

· Motivator and Public Speaker

· Determined & Dedicated

Karen Mitchell is a woman who has faced, and overcome, many obstacles in her life. From a diving accident at the age of nineteen, Karen sustained a spinal cord injury and became an incomplete quadriplegic. A wheelchair became an extension of her body for mobility. Nineteen years later, she faced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the bladder as a secondary complication of her spinal cord injury. Odds were against her as the cancer had already spread locally into her lymphatic system. Karen underwent major surgery and began an aggressive round of chemotherapy. Due to post surgical complications, Karen was sustained for six weeks on only TPN, IV feeding; and food and drink were eliminated. Through these difficulties, Karen refused to give up. She credits God and sailing as a powerful force supporting her to face all of life’s fears and challenges.

Karen began sailing in May 1994, after participating in a demo sail at Shake-A-Leg Miami. Shake-A-Leg founder, Harry Horgan, discovered a protégée in Karen Mitchell, and his influence follows her today. She immediately fell in love with sailing and thus enrolled in their sailing class. The incurable sailing bug bit her. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from FIU with a Bachelor Degree of Science in Occupational Therapy, she began dabbling in racing. Karen enjoyed the new challenges which racing presented -- the aspect of competition, which incorporates physical, mental and emotional challenges. Learning how to make the boat go fast, driving in the groove, attempting to be on the start line on time and in the right place, along with the many other strategies of racing appealed greatly to Karen. And, most importantly, “legs” were not a mandate for winning. Not only had the sailing bug bitten her, but now the racing bug.

Karen has found sailing, in addition to God, to be one of her main sources of inspiration to make it through the hard times. She states, “The water has definite therapeutic benefits. There are negative ions in water that can be very soothing to the body and mind.” In her darkest moments, Karen says, “Sailing has given me a reason to keep fighting the fight to live, so that I can continue sailing and love the life I cherish daily.” During her most difficult times, she has continued to sail. She flew to Chicago to sail in the North American Challenge Cup in 1999, three months after her surgery and while on TPN without food or drink for five weeks and undergoing chemotherapy. Remarkably, she and her partner placed second in the regatta. It was just what Karen needed to keep her spirit fighting to survive. In March 2001, on a Friday morning, she received a phone call from her oncologist, calling to inform her that the cancer had returned. Since it was recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma, she said there was nothing that could be done. She was, more or less, told to prepare to die. Even after hearing this news, on Saturday and Sunday, Karen sailed in the Coral Cup and placed first in her fleet. Again, sailing was the powerful force to help her fight for her life. One week later, miraculously, the cancer could not be found.

Karen Mitchell is determined to overcome her daily life challenges and accomplish her goal of competing at the top level of sailboat racing. In addition, she values herself as a model to others. She is proof-positive of the potential to succeed in the face of overwhelming obstacles—she is a survivor. Karen wishes to bring encouragement and enlightenment to those facing difficult life circumstances, to promote involvement and participation in competitive sailing, and to support others to attain healthy bodies, souls and spirits. Karen, as not only a spinal cord injury survivor, but also a cancer survivor, is determined to represent the USA at the Paralympic Games in London England in 2012, as well as participate in many other international competitions. As of today, Karen Mitchell is cancer free. She now has more than eight years without cancer! Today and every day she truly is “Sailing for Life—A Survivor’s Dream."