Dominic Cooke was a normal college student athlete until a car crash his senior year paralyzed him.

It doesn’t stop him however, from hand cycling in a triathlon.

Cooke, 30, was injured when he was 22 years old. His athletic ability and passion for helping other hurt athletes is what made him start “Team TFO” this year for the 37th annual Eppie’s Great Race.

TFO — which stands for Try for Others — is a nonprofit organization Cooke created in 2005 to aid injured athletes.

“I played rugby before here in Sacramento at Jesuit High School and then at UC Berkeley,” Cooke said. “I was getting a lot of phone calls from injured rugby players. We help them with their immediate medical needs.”

It wasn’t until Cooke was training in Colorado last year at the Olympic training camp that he realized he missed being part of a team.

“I’ve been away from organized sports for so long that I kind of forget how special the team dynamic is,” he said.

Cooke began searching online for teammates for Team TFO. He found fellow teammate, Jon Bik, 37, who is a leg amputee runner and former U.S. triathlon champion in the amputee division.

Matt Strugar-Fritsch, 28, is the only whitewater kayak racer in northern California, Cooke said. He is also a paraplegic hand cyclist, but will be paddling in the race.

Cooke said he is excited for the race and attributes his inspiration to start Team TFO to his training in Colorado.

“I think when you get injured and you’re used to being active, all of the sudden, you can’t be. It’s just a complete lifestyle change,” he said. “I miss that kind of competitive spirit. Everyone has the same mindset, the same goals. You’ve got that support of your teammates to push you. They raise the bar to help you achieve your goals.”

This is the first time Eppie’s race will see Team TFO. Cooke said he wanted to bring awareness to the disabled community, which is why Try for Others is sponsoring four other teams for a total of 15 people.

“This year I kind of wanted to bring all the people that I know are doing cool stuff in the community and get them all out there in full force,” he said.

Cooke, who trains almost daily, said he lives by the John Wooden quote, “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

Cooke has been skydiving, paragliding and skiing — anything to be outdoors and out of his wheelchair. He said he feels it is a necessity for disabled people to be active to better their health.

“I never really feel like I’m racing against other people; you’re just always racing against yourself, trying to reach your own potential,” he said. “It’s so satisfying when I set a challenge and I’m able to complete it.”

Eppie’s Great Race funds will benefit Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services — which supports mentally and physically challenged individuals. The race itself will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday at William Pond Recreation Area Park (located on Arden Way) in Carmichael. Friday is the last day to register.

For more information on the race or the Friday kickoff party, visit thegreatrace.org.

Photos courtesy of Dominic Cooke.