Hand Cycling continues to add new participants and equipment, Saturday, November 14th!

What a beautiful morning for a nice ride through a beautiful park. Ava brought her kitty cat for a nice ride on her exotic bike. We have added three new hand cycles to the program this month and are purchasing two more high level bikes to keep up with the ever growing demand. This program is for all levels of physical disabilities including but not limited to high level quadriplegics. Starting Saturday, December 5^th the program time changes from 9-12 to our new time 12-3 pm. Please contact Ty Johnson for more information or to participate, bear-tech@msn.com.

CLICK HERE for more photos from the event.

RISE End of Summer Bash V Smashes Attendance Record!

This year’s attendance more than doubled last years with 918 total persons in attendance; Disabilities 237, Family Members 344, Volunteers  220, and Vendors/Sponsors 117.  Thanks to everyone that attended and supported this year’s event. We would like to ask everyone to send us your stories, pictures, and comments about the event. We are also open to any constructive criticism to make improvements. Send pictures to slarimore@riseadventures.org.  Comments can be made online click here. To view the pictures already posted click here.

Hand Cycling is Still Going Strong in the Heat

I would first like to thank all of the participants and volunteers who showed up to ride and help during the month of June after all there wouldn’t be a program without them.  Even though we lost one of our weekly rides on the 14^th due to problems with the weather it was, I believe, another successful month.  This is best shown by the five first time riders who I hope will now have new special stories that they can share with their family and friends as well as a greater understanding of what they are able to accomplish when offered an opportunity.  Some of the pictures here are of Scott a C-7 and one of our regular riders demonstrating his transfer technique which has improved along with his self esteem and self confidence.  It is during these times that I am provided with the greatest gift from the Hand Cycle Program.

Thank you,  Steve

Hand Cycling in South Fort Worth 6/24/09

We finally got a group of rider to get together in South Fort Worth.  Five RISE Rugby players, some friends, family and Peanut all came out to Pecan Valley Park in Benbrook.   It was a blast, but a little on the hot side.  The temperature was in the upper 90’s but the trail is almost all in the shade.  We planed the event late so there wasn’t any direct sun on us and we all brought our super sprayers from rugby, so we were all wet and cool.  The trail is about a 4 mile loop, but one of the parks is under construction so we had to double back.  It was no big deal though, but I hope that part of the trail opens soon.  The trail is very nice and smooth with some rolling hills and a few bridges that go over the Clear Fork of the Trinity River.  Overall it was a great bike ride and we all had fun.  If you are interested in going contact me and we will plan another ride.   slarimore@riseadventures.org

To view more photos click here.

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!

Rescheduled Events Due to Rain!

Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation Hand Cycle Clinic – We are excited to announce that we are able to reschedule the hand cycle clinic on Saturday, May 30th from 9:00-noon at Campion Trails (6030 Riverside Dr., Irving, TX 75039). Please note the change of time and location due to rescheduling. This trail is located next to a small river path that is canopied by trees! Beautiful I must say! We will have hot dogs and hamburgers for free to celebrate the event! A variety of bikes will be provided to explore on this pathway. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Lea Stewart for further details of meeting location at leas@baylorhealth.edu or 214-820-9578. We hope to see you all there … Leah Stewart

»» Click here for Event Map

RISE Discover Scuba, Saturday, May 30th, right after the Baylor Hand Cycle Clinic about a half mile away at Northlake College, from 12-4. It is not too late to sign up, please contact Paul Gray at pgray@riseadventures.org or 469.762.5075.

RISE Children’s Camping Inaugural Date is now Friday, May 29-30th. The first one is filled up but many more dates are available.

RISE Airplane Rides/Challenge Air, McKinney Event is now Saturday, July 6th.

All other RISE Programs are still on schedule so check the calendar and sign up now!

Want something to do this weekend, May 15-17th?

RISE Quad Rugby Friday Night, RISE Children’s Camp Friday-Sunday, visit the RISE Adventures booth at the Grapevine Main Street Days Festival Friday-Sunday, RISE collaborates with Baylor SCI Hand Cycle Clinic Saturday, RISE Airplane Rides in conjunction with Challenge Air Saturday, Sled Hockey Saturday, RISE Golf Sunday, RISE Hand Cycling Sunday, or RISE Kayaking Sunday.

Yes we are busy so get out of the house and have a great time at our numerous activities this weekend!

Sign up NOW for these RISE Programs; Golf, Kayaking, Fishing, Camping, Kayaking, Scuba, Photography, Airplane Rides, and Hand Cycling. Quad Rugby and Sled Hockey to not require reservations. Next month RISE will introduce dates for Therapeutic Horse Back Riding and Water Skiing. Additional Programs will start in July.

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)

Handcycling Sunday April 19th

Sorry guys for taking so long to get my Handcycling Blog entry for the ride on Sunday April 19th. The best thing about Sunday was having four new riders joining the Program. First of all Denise may be only a first grader but she was riding a big bike with her new biking helment that was given to all the kids at the Rotary Club sponsored Bike Rodeo the day before up at Scottish Rite Hospital where I was representing RISE at the event. Denise was having so much fun riding that I told her mother Oralia about the weekly bike rides at Campion Trails in Irving. They showed up right when the program started they both got some good exercise Denise riding the bike and her mother having to run sometimes to keep up. I think she had some great fun and they said to expect them back next week on the 26th.

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RISE Golf/Hand Cycle Picnic Recap

Saturday afternoon, April 11th was the third attempt to hold this event due to bad weather. The day started off cold and cloudy but the afternoon turned out nice. Attendance was down to what folks thought was going to be a bad weather day again but those in attendance had a great time. This was the last activity for Gary Pickle/RISE Golf Director at Campion Trails. The program now moves to the North Texas Golf Center.

Steve Carlson/RISE Handcycle Director had fun with a family driving up from Austin to attend all RISE events over the weekend. Others in attendance rode through this awesome park as this program continues at the same location every weekend. The RISE Children’s Camp opens May 15th and RISE had the new Freedom Tents on site to test. A large group gathered as Mike Peters and Steve Carlson, both paraplegics, attempted to set the tent up specially designed for wheelchairs. “Guys don’t read instructions” is not a myth. After a few attempts they were joined by Jonathan Merchant, a quadriplegic, and finally a paraplegic mother and all went well.

Joel “Peanut” Hendrix cooked burgers and dogs and the grill was the place to be to keep warm.

RISE Handcycling Program News

We had another fine day of handcycling this afternoon. Michelle of course was there and I say of course because before the month was a week old I had an e-mail from her signing up for all the dates available this month. There also were a couple of first-timers Moise and Bill, it is special to see new riders learn that sometimes it’s fun to get “CRANKY”

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RISE Golf & Hand Cycling Picnic Rescheduled

Weather permitting, we will have our golf and hand cycle picnic on, Saturday, April 11.

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Taking Reservations!

RISE Fishing with Andy, RISE Children’s Camping, Children’s Cast for Catfish, Children’s Addison Fish Derby, Hand Cycling, Golf, Scuba, and Sailing are taking reservations. RISE Rugby and Sled Hockey do not require reservations.

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!

Challenge Air Update

What a challenge Challenge Air was.  RISE had on display Quad Rugby chairs, hand cycles, golf and sled hockey sleds. After the kids discovered they could try them out it was a nonstop day!  Golf was an extreme favorite for kids and grownups alike. The kids created their own course through the airplane hangar for the hand cycles.  They raced away for hours! The Quad Rugby chairs were a hit , or bang I should say as many folks gave it a whirl.   It was all we could do to keep track of everyone, and thanks to Randy Smith with C&R Medical and Darrell with LIFT-AIDS for helping out as well.

Major Corporate Update

I founded RISE Adventures, Inc. on March 22, 2007 with the support of Steve Carlson. I am asked a lot of questions from our constituency about the overall status of RISE. As we approach our second birthday I felt it was important to provide a current corporate update. Transparency is important for all non-profit charitable organizations.

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RISE featured in Keeping Up with KC Jones

Take a look below!  RISE was recently featured in the latest Keeping Up episode with KC Jones.  KC was kind enough to come visit us at Campion Trails in Irving a few weeks back at one of our handcycling programs.  She and her crew were able to film some really great footage of RISE members Eric, Spencer, Dave and Mike riding on various bikes.  It was a beautiful day out and we’re so very thankful for this opportunity to have quality video footage for our site and organization.  Thank you KC and crew!  Check it out!

Intro to RISE featured in “Keeping Up with KC Jones” on YouTube

Part 2 of RISE in “Keeping Up with KC Jones” on YouTube

RISE Sled Hockey

Thanks to the hard work of James Dunham, RISE has finally secured ice time at the Addison Square Gardens to start Saturday, November 15th, and will continue throughout the year.

RISE Sled Hockey is an active and inspiring program.  Sled Hockey allows the disabled player to experience a unique sense of freedom.  Securely seated in sleds outfitted with hockey skate blades, players enjoy the fitness benefits, social interaction with coaches and teammates, athletic challenge and sheer pleasure of moving on the ice.

This program is for all ages and levels of physical disabilities.  We would like to invite all of those that have never participated as well as those that have played before.