For Dwayne Adams, Sr., turning a challenge into an opportunity is part of his daily routine.

Adams entered the sport of rowing after his left eye was struck by a stray bullet from a shooting in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pa. He was left with partial sight in one eye and a prosthetic in the other, and no sense of smell or taste.

Five months into recovery, Adams found himself at Boathouse Row, trying out an adaptive rowing program run by Philadelphia Rowing for the Physically Disabled.

“My mother would take me down to the river, and I was just loving it,” Adams said. “I was allowed to row one night per week. I would try to sneak out to get another night in.”

Adams soon found himself training with the U.S. Adaptive National Team and competing all over the world. In 2002, he won a bronze medal in the four with coxswain at the World Championships in Seville, Spain.

His next challenge?

On July 19, 10 years after the date of his accident, Adams plans to row a 26.2-mile marathon on the Schuylkill River. With the help of rowing programs from Wilmington, Del., to Rochester, N.Y., and the support of Boathouse Row, the 46-year-old hopes to raise awareness for the sport of rowing and bring it to disabled and inner-city youth.

“I got the idea from Oprah and P. Diddy when they trained for and ran a marathon,” said Adams. “I was thinking that if I could do that on the river, I could draw attention to my organization to raise awareness and funding.”

In 2005, Adams formed the non-profit organization, Breaking Barriers, with the purpose of helping urban youth utilize the structure and commitment of athletics, particularly rowing, to provide alternative challenges and choices for the young generation. As founder and president, Adams is a hands-on life coach for dozens of inner-city children between the ages of 13 and 17.

“We are different from other boat clubs,” said Adams. “These kids have been kicked out of school, and they’re trying to get back on their feet. I get them into the gym and spend time with them, instead of taking them right to the water. It’s also important for me to get the message across that it’s not just physical, but there is a greater mental aspect involved as well. So far, the feedback is pretty positive.”

With a complete lap on the Schuylkill totaling six miles, Adams plans to row about four and a half laps in an eight, switching children from different programs in and out of the boat in cycles.

“I’m really hoping to get the community involved and have a whole fleet of boats,” said Adams. “I would love a response from any and all boat clubs to come out and support this effort. The key to this working is to get as many boats on the river as I can. I’m a man of color, and I want to show people that this sport is for everyone of every color. It’s about community and diversity.”

Adams strives to use his own life as an inspiration to influence others and enjoys motivational speaking on any and all subjects. In addition to authoring his autobiography, he also practices as a certified personal trainer, massage therapist and Level II USRowing coach.

“My life story is proof that there are no barriers for those who are determined to overcome them,” said Adams. “I want to show these kids that anything is possible.”

To find out how you can get involved, visit www.breakingbarriers05.org or e-mail breakingbarriersrowing@yahoo.com.