Ed McCaffrey Dare to Play Football Camp Instructors

Ed McCaffrey
Three-time Super Bowl ChampionEd McCaffrey Ed McCaffrey established himself as one of the game’s most popular players and excelled as one of the NFL’s toughest and most dependable wide receivers during his 13-year career in the National Football League. He won three Super Bowl rings and was selected to start in the 1998 Pro Bowl. McCaffrey retired in 2004 as one of just 31 players in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two different teams (San Francisco and Denver).

As respected as he was on the field, Ed has made an equally significant impact off the field—first during his playing career with the establishment of The McCaffrey Family Foundation and through the number of television, radio and print impressions he makes for businesses and organizations. He has organized and ran the Ed McCaffrey Football Camp in Colorado for over a decade and has added a unique new camp to the lineup for children and young adults with Down syndrome. The Ed McCaffrey Dare to Play Football Camp and the Dare to Cheer Cheerleading are produced in partnership with the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

Ed and his wife Lisa are parents of four boys and are very active in the community through their foundation, which strives to improve the lives of children, particularly in Colorado. The goal of the foundation is to assist children whose medical situation has created a hardship, whether financial or academic, and provide opportunities for children who show great promise through exceptional academics and hard work.

Ed is delighted to coach his campers with Down syndrome. He believes they are more alike than different and that they should have the same opportunities that others have to engage in all sports, including football.

Brian Kula
Assistant Athletic Director, Valor Christian High School

Prior to this position at Valor, Brian worked at Littleton High School teaching Physical Education/Health. He has several years of coaching experience. He also serves as Valor’s Head Track and Field coach. Brian earned a BS from the University of Northern Colorado.

Rod Sherman
Athletic Director, Valor Christian High School

Prior to his appointment at Valor, Rod Sherman served as Athletic Director at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. During Rod’s tenure as AD, Orange Lutheran rose to national prominence in one of the top athletic leagues in the country. Rob earned his BA from Concordia University and his MA from Hope International University.

Brent Vieselmeyer
Director of Admissions, Valor Christian High School

Prior to his appointment as Director of Admissions for Valor, Brent served on the administration and coaching staff at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, CA.  Brent earned his BA from Concordia University and his MA from the University of Phoenix.

Watch the Ed McCaffrey Dare to Play/Dare to Cheer Camps as Featured on 9News

Ed McCaffrey Dare to Play Football Camp Advisory Board

Barry Martin, MD
Medical Director, Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic

Barry Martin, MD, is Board Certified in Family Medicine. He has more than 14 years experience providing primary health care for adults with disabilities, especially developmental disabilities. He is a board member of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry.

Dr. Martin is a member of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and past co-chair of the Health and Wellness Action Group. He is also a member of the National Down Syndrome Congress and the American Association on Health and Disability. In addition, Dr. Martin is the Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Metro Community Provider Network, and an Associate Clinical Professor of Family Practice at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Luke Stahmer
Chair, Ed McCaffrey Dare to Play Football Camp Advisory Board

Luke Stahmer graduated from the University of Colorado in 2001 with degrees in business with emphasis in finance and a minor in astrophysics. Soon thereafter, he started a career in professional sports spending nearly seven years working for John Elway and his arena football team. Joining the organization in 2002, prior to the team’s inaugural season, Luke served in many roles and ultimately was the Vice President of Operations and General Manager and was part of the 2005 ArenaBowl Championship.

Among his community involvement, Luke currently serves as Vice President of the joint boards for the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter, is a board member with the United Way’s Flagship program, Bridging the Gap, and serves on the corporate governance board for Arc Thrift of Colorado, a Colorado social enterprise with over 900 paid employees and 20 retail locations across the state.

Luke is a staunch advocate for the differently-abled and he is a key architect of the existing and expanding Ed McCaffrey Dare to Play Football Camps for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

Patricia C. Winders
Senior Physical Therapist, Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down SyndromePat Winders

Patricia C. Winders is the Senior Physical Therapist at the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome, the medical care center for the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome.

Since joining the Sie Center in December 2007, Patricia has seen nearly 250 patients and has launched several programs with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation including the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance Class with the Colorado Ballet and the Ed McCaffrey Dare to Play Football and Cheer Camps.  Her position at the Sie Center has allowed her to mentor other physical therapists, participate in important gross motor skills research, and update the definitive book that she researched and wrote – Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals.

Over the last three decades, Patricia has captured important gross motor information for children with Down syndrome that forms the best practices outlined in her book.  From crawling, to walking, to participating fully in exercise and sports, Patricia has helped thousands of individuals with Down syndrome reach their gross motor skills potential.

Patricia is thrilled with the results of the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance Class.  She has enjoyed learning from the program in Boston and from the dancers at the Colorado Ballet.  She is most impressed by what the students learn in just 10 weeks and she is very proud of each student’s performance at the end of class recital.  To read Patricia’s full bio, please click here.