Our Volunteers

I’m Steve McLaughlin and I knew Andrew before his accident. When he started Triumph Foundation, I learned about his plan of an Adaptive Recreational Program to help others dealing with spinal cord injury and paralysis. We started the program with only two handcycles, assembling them in our backyard in Santa Clarita. Since our first clinic my wife Traci, joined us and it was a life changing experience for both of us. When I saw the look of pure joy on a participants face for the first time as he was able to ride a bike again, it was an exceptional moment and I knew this is where my heart was. Now, we have developed a program that is all inclusive and we hold monthly clinics in various locations throughout Southern California. The dream that started with only two handcycles is now a fleet of different types of adaptive bikes. There is always one newly injured person who attends each clinic and is riding a bike for the first time since their injury bringing me back to the reason why I am so grateful to participate with Triumph Foundation.

At just about every Triumph event you will find Traci McLaughlin and her husband Steve helping to make it all possible. Traci has been a part of Triumph from an early start, knowing Andrew from a young age. She is an integral part of Triumph’s cycling program; taking names and making sure everyone gets a chance to participate. She loves being a grandma, and the Triumph family would not be complete without her.

My name is Meagan Miller and I started volunteering with Triumph in 2023. I previously worked for many years as a project manager at the Getty Museum in Brentwood and was looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity near my home in Stevenson Ranch. My first Triumph volunteer experience was building care backpacks and I was hooked.

From day one, I felt such a strong sense of connection and community within the Triumph family. I enjoy learning from and sharing with Triumph staff, other Triumph volunteers, and the people that Triumph serves. The Triumph family has also been extremely welcoming to my two daughters and they both love attending Triumph events when they can.

In addition to backpack building, I really like helping out at weekly rugby practice in Burbank and traveling all around Southern California for adaptive sports events and the annual holiday parties.

When I’m not spending time with my kids or volunteering with Triumph, I love reading, hiking, watching ice hockey, and visiting art museums.

I began volunteering with Triumph Foundation in 2025 after being introduced to the organization through my wife while she was attending West Coast University. In my day-to-day life I work as an electrician, so volunteering in this community wasn’t something I initially expected – but it has been a truly rewarding experience.

My wife and I often volunteer together at events like wheelchair rugby tournaments, the Triumph Gala, Adaptive Sports Fest, and the Ability Expo. One of my favorite memories was at the Gala when Andrew Skinner asked me to walk around selling Mardi Gras-style beads for a game during the evening. I wouldn’t normally call myself very extroverted, but I spent the night making up pitches on the spot and selling beads to support the foundation. It turned into a fun and unforgettable experience.

Outside of volunteering, I enjoy staying active through running, weightlifting, and swimming. Last year I ran my first half marathon wearing a custom Triumph T-shirt to represent the foundation. When I’m not being active, I enjoy playing board games with my wife, baking, working on cars, and fixing electrical projects around the house.

I grew up in Washington State on the Key Peninsula and was raised by my mom alongside my younger sister. My wife and I now share our home with two cats, Banjo and Newt, who keep life entertaining.

I was introduced to Triumph through my occupational therapy doctoral program at West Coast University in early 2025. I first volunteered with my spouse at Sunday adaptive rugby and was immediately drawn to continue volunteering. The opportunity to experience the rugby events, Triumph Gala, Adaptive Sports Fest, Triumph Ambassador Training, and Wheelchair Sports Fest have been monumental in my growth as a future OT and as a person. I have grown a passion for advocating for holistic care within the SCI community and beyond.

The Triumph community maintains a powerful pull on all who engage with it and I am so grateful to experience it and extend its reach. I have been blessed to grow friendships that feel like family from all who contribute their time, kindness, and experience to Triumph. I fondly remember the first time I met much of the Triumph family and am so grateful to now call them friends. I am a local from Orange/LA counties. When I am not at a volunteering event you can find me attending music festivals, getting outdoors, going to new restaurants, or spending time with my family and cats (Banjo and Newt).

I’ve been connected to Triumph Foundation through my work as the Lead Spinal Cord Injury Physical Therapist at St. Jude Centers for Rehab and Wellness, where I’ve worked for the past 19 years. I help coordinate our monthly support group and community involvement, and volunteering with Triumph has become a meaningful part of both my professional and personal life.

My connection to the spinal cord injury community is also personal. My father has lived with a T9 incomplete spinal cord injury for nearly two decades, and my husband lives with nerve damage from West Nile Virus. Because of this, I participate in the community not only as a therapist, but also as a daughter and a wife.

One of my favorite experiences has been participating in the Superhero 5K events – they’re incredibly inspiring and bring the community together in such a powerful way. I’ve also enjoyed spending time training alongside the Ambassadors and seeing firsthand the impact this organization has on so many lives.

Outside of volunteering, I’m a wife and mother of two – an 8-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. I grew up in Tustin, California and was a Division I softball player at Fresno State University, where I was honored to be a two-time Academic All-American. Today, I love watching my kids play sports, traveling with my family, spending time at the beach, and going for early morning runs.

I met Triumph in March 2018 after my good friend, Edie Perkins had a bicycle accident. The Triumph ambassadors, including Andrew and Walter, came to a bicycle shop in Santa Monica to help fundraise and support Edie in her recovery. I was moved by the stories and the commitment to helping people recover from their injuries. I have enjoyed volunteering because of the people. The warmth and spirit of the Triumph family is clear from the top, through every volunteer, extending down to the participants at an event. With my background with bicycles, I have been fortunate to work with the handcycling team to introduce handcycling to new participants. The time it takes to transfer and set up a handcycle for each rider quickly disappears when you see them smiling from ear to ear from that first turn of the cranks. Sometimes we have to chase them down to get them to give someone else a turn on the handcycle. That joy is why I personally ride bikes and being able to help others experience that feeling is golden.

I got involved with Triumph during my spring semester at Cal State University Northridge in 2018 as one of their student interns. It’s meaningful and feels so good when you help someone out of a rut. Many of the participants would tell me they finally feel like they’re living life now after coming to these events. It’s important to help others at their lowest so that they can thrive and fulfill new dreams. I love the energy and seeing the look on the participants faces when they’re having fun at our events. I love working with my Triumph Family because it’s never a dull moment.

When you love a family that has been dear friends for years, you’re involved in whatever they go through, not because you’re friends but, because you love.  While in the beginning of Triumph Foundation’s existence, my husband and I participated in Triumph’s fundraising events.  The events were always a wonderful time and the people we that met were equally wonderful!  I easily got drawn into the giving of my time and efforts and that began with the Christmas Care Basket Outreach in 2014.  From there, as they say, the rest is history!  Volunteering for Triumph Foundation has birthed this quote in my heart and soul…“Your riches are not based on what you carry in your pocket but solely by what it is that you choose to embrace in your heart”.  I have been richly blessed, more than (I believe) that I have blessed by giving.  I’m so thankful to always be given the opportunity to be a part of the Triumph Foundation Family.

Ray owns a successful Real Estate Property Management company for over 30 years. He was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and has six grown children. He started volunteering after meeting Andrew at their Church.

When asked what he’d say to encourage other to get involved, Ray said “It is truly a heartwarming experience, challenging, and lifetime new friends. Also, lots of love and sharing.”

Ray went on to say, “Helping others, playing sports (mainly basketball) and of course Triumph Foundation”, bring him joy.

My name is Luz Yadira Perez, I first started helping my friend Michele, a Triumph Ambassador, with the centerpieces for Triumph’s 2017 Casino Night and got to tag along. Once I attended that event, I fell in love with the organization and they can’t get rid of me now!! I just love volunteering and helping Triumph Foundation, it feels good to my heart!

I am a master’s student in Adapted Physical Activity at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN), and I got involved with Triumph when they joined up with CSUN for the Valley Go Hand Cycling program. I love helping where I can and seeing people enjoy themselves. It brings a smile to my face when I see people after a ride and they just had a great time. I really enjoy people working hard and trying their hardest to improve their quality of life through these hand cycling events, kayaking, sports festivals, rugby, basketball, you name it! The small amount that I can contribute to help at these events; whether it’s transfers, setting up, tearing down, it’s for a great cause and I am happy to help.