Jennifer Fitz-Roy

Jen is the indoor world record holder in the PR2 womens 6k and half-marathonShe received the Young Adult Leadership Award from the Spina Bifida Association. Jen works as the manager of the Para and military programs at Community Rowing, Inc. She is a dog mom to an eight-year-old pug/beagle mix named Benson. She was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show when she was 16 and spoke about growing up with Spina Bifida. Jen loves all things Disney. In 2012, a friend of hers was visiting from Kentucky to compete in an indoor Para rowing competition, so she went to cheer her on, learned about the sport, and attended adaptive rowing classes for about a year. She left rowing for several years, returning in 2018 when she was looking for social connection and exercise to improve her mental health. Jen lost her father to cancer when she was a teenager, but he had an enormous impact on her life in a short time, and he gave Jen her independence, her stubborn attitude, and her smile. Jen said her dad stopped her from being consumed by self-pity through the dozens of hospitalizations and surgeries she had as a child. He advocated for Jen, taught her to speak up for herself, and encouraged her to be creative and find ways that she could participate despite her physical limitations. It's because of the legacy he left that Jen loves to laugh, take on new challenges, and push beyond her comfort zone.