Marva Ways discovered her competitive spirit and has been an annual competitor in the Michigan Wheelchair Games since 1979. Her accomplishments were acknowledged at the '91 Michigan Wheelchair Games being named Best Overall Master Athlete. Her awards include being named the community division Female Athlete of the Year in 1985 and the Lee Nelsey Sportsmanship Award for basketball in 1986.

She led Michigan's spinal cord athletes by capturing golds in table tennis and field events at the 1991 National Games for the Disabled. Other competition includes the 1984 Cross Ability International Games for the Disabled and the 1985 National Wheelchair Games. TOP Ladies of Distinction honored Marva as the 1994 Woman of the Year.

Since 1980, her support for disabled sports issues has led to her participation as a peer counselor and advocate for wheelchair sports through the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. She has been instrumental in promoting both local and national level programs for ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today) which encourages the disabled to live independently in their own homes rather than nursing homes. Marva makes her home in Inkster.