Wheelchair tennis is a sport Jillanna "Mel" Curry knows well.

Curry says, "There is really no comparison. For me, wheelchair tennis is the new apple pie."

She had been an athlete her whole life, but after having her leg amputated in 2003, her love of sports was put on hold.

That is until she read an article about wheelchair tennis, and eventually met one of the pros.

"He taught me the basics of wheelchair tennis, and I've been rolling ever since," says Curry.

Curry is now a U.S. Tennis Association silver medalist.

She says, "I would have never have dreamed I would have had a blessing come to me like this, because I do see this amputation as a blessing in my life."

Staying active can be difficult for many people in wheelchairs. It can make issues like obesity harder to fight.

Joe Fangman, from the Mid-Atlantic Wheelchair Athletic Association, says, "They don't have the means to get out and exercise. To have an accessible gym and to play wheelchair tennis is great."

Fangman says Augusta Health's new wheelchair tennis program will provide a needed outlet for the disabled to stay in shape.

"A lot of these individuals were competitive before their injuries and that doesn't stop when you're injured," adds Fangman.

He hopes this new program will help launch a sport that continues to grow in popularity.

"It's just starting and I think it's going to get bigger and bigger," adds Fangman.

Organizers say wheelchair tennis is one of the only sports where able-bodied athletes and wheelchair-bound athletes can play alongside each other at the same time.