Spina Bifida Water Sports Picnic was held Saturday, July 17th.

There are always way too many people to thank for their unconditional support. Without the financial support of C & R Medical Supplies & Lift-Aids and their personal involvement none of our free programs would be possible! It was over 100 degrees but the temperature did not dampen the spirits. The huge turnout of children with disabilities and family members enjoyed a full day of water skiing, jet skiing, water float rides, swimming, sailing, kayaking, golf, lawn games hand cycling, and lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs. A huge “Thank You” also goes to Albert Estes/Scottish Rite Hospital, Spina Bifida Board and staff and the large number of Volunteers that endured a long hot day of fun in the sun!

CLICK HERE for more photos of the event.

North Texas Perspective Radio Show KSCS 96.3

RISE Outreach Director Mike Peters was interviewed by Hondo of North Texas Perspective on KSCS 96.3 The Texas Original.  The show aired early one Sunday morning a few weeks back so we decided to upload it here.

Advanced Water Ski Clinic, Saturday, June 19th

Man-o-man we sure had a lot of fun thanks to the folks at Metroplex Adaptive Water Sports!  These guys are true professionals.  They provided a beautiful private lake with pristine waters and one incredible boat to pull skiers.  RISE volunteers gained valuable experience by doing that morning.  We learned the proper way to fit participants with the different sizes of baskets and water skis.  We learned the difference between the sizes of skis in relation to skill levels and participant functionality.  We learned new ways to hold the rope, where to hold the rope and where to position the knots.  We learned that we had been skiing with our basket backwards for the past few weeks. While not completely wrong, it’s much easier when the basket is facing such a way that your legs are brought together and your body is hunched forward.  Our volunteers learned new ways to position participants in the water.  We learned techniques for getting in and out of the basket while in the water.  We all earned one heck-of-a-tan!

RISE provided a BBQ lunch in the early afternoon from a local BBQ joint.  We sat in the shade, enjoyed new friends and traded ski stories.  The day was a huge success and I look forward to carrying over the knowledge learned into our own water ski program.

I want to thank Blaine and his crew of drivers and jumpers along with RISE volunteers Peter and David. You guys made the day fun and enjoyable with your patience and skill.  Thank you!

RISE Airplane Rides, Saturday, October 10, 2009, Dallas Love Field Airport, 9am–1pm. SIGN UP NOW!

RISE is collaborating with Challenge Air to provide FREE 30 minute airplane rides. Any child or youth living with a physical disability or life-threatening illness may pre-register for the program by clicking here. Each disability can also take two friends or family on the flight. Make sure you tell them RISE sent you! Reservations are required online at challengeair.com. Here is a list of qualifying examples: Spinal Cord Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Autism, Cancer, Leukemia, Sight/Hearing Impaired, and others.

To register go to www.challengeair.org or Paul Gray at pgray@riseadventures.org.

Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, (BIR) Hand Cycle Clinic was held on Saturday, May 30th

I just wanted to update you all on our hand cycle clinic that was held last Saturday for our Support Challenge Inspire participants. It was a huge success, especially considering that we had to reschedule the event due to weather. Thank you Angie, Heidi, Alina, and Alli for coming out to help!!! You gals were a great team helping perform many transfers. We had a total of 53 people (22 wheelchair users, 15 family members, one inpatient- Monic, and 16 volunteers). Thank you RISE Adventures for helping transport the bikes, locate volunteers and Mike who grilled the food! Another big thank you to those who allowed us to borrow your hand cycles!!! We could not have had this event without you all! Thanks again! I look forward to our next hand cycle clinic.

Thanks,
Lea Stewart – Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist!

Click here for a bunch more pictures!

Spotlight on Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (BIR)

Dr. Bruce and Lea Stewart were recently featured on WBS Channel 33 local news discussing the unfortunate accident paralyzing Dallas Cowboys scout Rich Beam.

RISE is proud to support Dr. Ann Marie Warren, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (BIR), to promote studies that may impact you. Do you have a spinal cord injury? Do these symptoms bother you: poor sleep, low energy, little interest in usual activities, depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness or pain? The Project to Improve Symptoms and Mood after Spinal Cord Injury (PRISM) is the first federally funded clinical trial of an antidepressant for people with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).  If you have a SCI, are 18-64 years old, have several of these symptoms, are not taking venlafaxine XR and live within 100 miles of Seattle, WA, Birmingham, AL, Chicago, IL, Ann Arbor, MI or Dallas, TX you may qualify for this trial. Please contact Ann Marie Warren, Ph.D. at 214-820-9315.

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Spotlight on RISE Collaboration with the Scottish Rite Hospital (SRH)

RISE was very busy with our great friends at SRH this past month. RISE attended PALS meetings, the SRH Bike Rodeo and Child Safety Day, Scottish Rite to Play in conjunction with Get Kidz Fit 2009 at the Dallas Fair Park Centennial Building, and SRH Rite 2 Play.

RISE Collaboration/Third Annual Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (BIR) Hand Cycle Clinic

RISE is collaborating with Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (BIR) Hand Cycle Clinic, Saturday, May 16^th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Bishop Lynch High School, contact Lea Stewart and let her know you are coming, (214) 820-9578 or LeaS@BaylorHealth.edu.

Event Flyer (pdf)
Event Map (pdf)

Scottish Rite to Play in conjunction with Get Kidz Fit 2009

Event is this Saturday, April 25th, at the Dallas Fair Park Centennial Building from 1:00-4:00pm, admission is free. RISE Adventures will have a display of equipment as well as information about our kids programs. Gary Pickle will be demonstrating disability golf.

Click here for event flyer.

Spina-Bifida Easter Egg Picnic a Huge Success

The Spina-Bifida Association of Texas Easter Egg Hunt was held Saturday, April 4th at the Scottish RITE Hospital. RISE sponsored the event this year. A lot of fun was had by all! A special thanks goes to our title sponsors, C & R Medical and Lift-Aids, Wendy Harvey/SBANT, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay EnABLE Volunteers, and the RISE staff for making this a special day for the kiddos…

Click here to look at more pictures!

Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers! We need your support! Click here for details.

To become a TEAM RISE Volunteer, click here.

Thanks in advance for your support in helping us accomplish our mission!