The 2010 Texas Statewide Independent Living Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Suites in Dallas, March 7-9th, 2010.

RISE received a special invitation from Paula Margeson/REACH to participate with a booth and hosting an adaptive recreational equipment workshop. Regina Blye/Executive Director/TXSILC hosted an excellent conference. We met new friends and recognized old faces. The RISE workshop was hosted by Paul Gray/CEO/RA. Spencer Larimore spoke about Quad Rugby and demonstrated the chairs used to play the sport. Mike Peters demonstrated Hand Cycling and Sled Hockey. Gary Pickle demonstrated Golf and how to use an Adaptive Golf Cart. Gary used Mike as a first time participant for demonstration purposes for this fast growing program. Everyone had a great time working towards a common goal in supporting the disability community.

Texas Thunder Quad Rugby Tournament, February 5-7th Great Results!

We would like to thank all of our volunteers  and sponsors, The Texas Stampede, RISE, C & R Medical,  Lift-Aids, the Hilton Garden Inn, and the City of Irving for helping put on an excellent tournament.  Seven quad rugby teams from across the country came to the city of Irving to compete in this three day event.  The competition was stiff with no teams going undefeated.

CLICK HERE for more photos of the tournament.

Check out the tournament results below…

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Charity Fundraising Rugby Match is a Huge Success!

On Friday December 18, the Dallas Harlequins played  Team RISE Adventures in a charity fund raising Quad rugby event. This year we gathered to help support two charities over the holidays. The event brought in tons of toys for Toys for Tots and some money for Triggers Toys. Both teams brought out numerous fans to support their team and these wonderful charities. Once again Team Rise dominated the scoreboard 56 – 46!  ON Magazine did a photo shoot with RISE and it will soon be profiled in their magazine.

This event wouldn’t have be possible without these great sponsors!  C & R Medical ,  Lift Aids, and  ON magazine

CLICK HERE to see more photos of the event.

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Kayaying in the Cold 11/21/09

It was a cloudy morning on Saturday, November 21, 2009. A few of us were planning to go hand cycling and kayaking. Since it rained the night before the hand cycling trails were completely under water so we went kayaking that day. It was a good thing we decided to go kayaking it was over cast but it was not to cold or hot it was perfect weather. We enjoyed ourselves exploring new areas that we haven’t been before while we were kayaking. I encourage everyone to go out and experience Kayaking.

Russell J. Amaya

To see more photos CLICK HERE.

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.

TEAM RISE participates in the Neuro Fitness Foundation Golf Fundraiser, November 9th.

To say the least none of us that played are avid golfers. I think you are supposed to play with a foursome but we didn’t know the rules so played, well, attempted to play with 6 golfers to support our great friends at NFF. Our group only attempted 7 holes and was finally requested to call it a day on the 18^th hole since we were holding up the rest of the real golfers from completing their rounds. Even though our skills were lacking, I promise you our group had more fun than the rest in support of a great cause.  CLICK HERE for more photos of the event.

RISE Photography, “Autumn at the Arboretum” 10/24/09

Nobody can say that photography is boring! I had a great time exploring this program for the first time at the Dallas Arboretum this past weekend. What can I say…, it was beautiful weather in the 70’s, sunny, clear skies, free admission into a well known tourist attraction where plant life and sculptures have more meaning than beauty, free lunch, fun entertainment from RISE volunteers, and most of all a new friendship with Michelle! Click Here to check out our photos and get a glimpse of what we experienced. I challenge you all to come try out this program and build your own memories and new friendships.   Lea

RISE Quad Rugby Keeps Growing (New Video)

The RISE Adventures Quad Rugby program is getting bigger and better.  There are new players showing up every week.  This week we had 18 players.   The competition is getting fierce!  Five of our consistent players now have their own chairs and RISE Adventures provides 13 more chairs!  So come on out and bash it up with us!   No reservations are required for this weekly program.  We play every Friday from 6 pm till 9 pm at the Georgia Farrow Recreation Center.

Georgia Farrow Recreation Center
530 Davis Dr
Irving, TX 75061    click here for map.

Click here for more photos

RISE Sailing by Rick Brauer

Fall is upon us and soon winters ill wind. Four more dates left for this year, if we can catch a break.

Last Sunday was a wash out but hey, we tried!   Hopefully we shall have a few good days, especially those days we want to go sailing.  An eye on weather conditions is something we always must have, so for those who would like to give it a shot, let me know!

Just imagine, a nice sunshiny day, the cool breeze fills the sails. That’s what I’m imagining.  It can happen. We can possibly schedule additional dates.

For more information or to reserve your spot contact Captain Rick Brauer at rbrauer@riseadventures.org.

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.

My Fishing Experience was Amazing! 9/5/09

Dear, RISE Adventures

My fishing experience was amazing.  It’s always calming for me to fish. But then at the same time it’s a fun challenge to actually try catch.  At my latest fishing experience I caught five fish, and it didn’t even take that long to catch them.  So the rest of the time I got to relax and enjoy the rock of the boat, and just have a good time.  I really do hope to go on another fishing activity.  I’m setting a new record to catch seven fish the next time I go, and it’s all thanks to Rise Adventures.

Sincerely,

Alex Barkheimer

To see more RISE Fishing photos CLICK HERE.

Tee it Up Anytime!

RISE golfers take advantage of “flex scheduling” and Tee it Up on Wednesday, August 5th at the North Texas Golf Center.  If the regularly scheduled RISE golf event just doesn’t fit your schedule, get your buddies together and let’s go play when it’s convenient….for you!  RISE provides everything:  single rider cart, golf clubs, instruction, an accessible facility with golf course, driving range, short game area…all just waiting to be used and centrally located at I35 and Walnut Hill in Dallas.  So, give yourself a midweek break….plan ahead and schedule some golf for yourself next week.  By phone or email, gary@garypickle.com or 817.684.1128.  CLICK HERE to see more photos of RISE Golf.

Learning the Ropes

Put the main sail on the boom, put up the jib, go to the port, go to the starboard side, point towards the cut, put the rope in the cleat, and tie the halyard down! What on earth does all this mean? For an everyday person, the sailing terminology can seem somewhat confusing, but for Travis, Sunday was a perfect day to refresh his sailing skills. With little wind, it is obvious that sailing a boat will go nowhere and seem pointless, but Travis, a T-12 para has already completed his 4 hr classroom studies, passed the 100 question written test, and completed the 4-hr on water lesson. Since there was little to no wind on Sunday, RISE Sailing was spent not necessarily sailing on the boat, but a morning used for our participant to practice his sailing skills in something he wants to learn and enjoys doing. He worked on rigging the boat, his motor work, driving the boat in and out of the slip and acting as Captain, directing his first mate on what to do. Captain Don assisted Travis as he went through everything, just as he would do if he came out and sailed with a friend. He directed his first mate Andrew and RISE volunteer Jessica on how to help him. By the end of the morning, Travis had it down, and it was smooth sailing- HA! No pun intended!!! Now he just needs to go out and finish his practical work and he’ll be Keelboat certified! Way to go Travis… I mean Captain Travis!

CLICK HERE to see more photos.

Stephanie Bowerman, MS, ABD

Program Director RISE Adventures, Inc.

sbowerman@riseadventures.org

Fishing with Andy

I want to thank Andy for all of his devotion to RISE programs! It’s amazing to see how the quad rugby Friday nights are the hot spot to be! Now I have to try and show up on time since everyone knows it’s a must! Thanks for taking a group of us night fishing the following day. We each caught 4-5 fish! Thank goodness since I was skunked the prior week when I attempted to fish 3 times in Alaska. Andy knows where to find success on Lake Ray Hubbard. He even brought adaptive equipment for a quadriplegic that he made personally. Thanks to all the volunteers that run RISE programs like Andy!!! I always look forward to a RISE activity on a weekly basis!!!

-Lea

New Golfer Gives Thanks to RISE Golf Program

We would like to express our appreciation in getting Caleb involved with RISE.  He really enjoyed his first adventure with you guys playing golf this past weekend.  He had a lot of fun and said he wants to be able to do it again! He is excited to get involved and try some new things that he never imagined he could do before.  So we want to share our joy with you in giving him such new found confidence and a love for exploring some unknown adventures!  Your organization is a wonderful expression of understanding and compassion to those with special needs.  Thank you so much for giving our son the opportunity to join with your organization!

Blessings,
Mark and Kim Brown

RISE Fishing in the Dark 6/27/09

RISE Adventures fishing on a late Saturday night was a huge hit.  We all caught 5-6  sand bass in about three hours. The weather was great! We lowered lights into the water to attract minnows that would, in turn, attract the large fish.  We used minnow bait on a hook, waited a few minutes and BAM!-fish on!!!  I hadn’t fished in 15 years and the feeling of a fish grabbing my bait reminded me of being a kid again!  Andy’s boat is very accessible and Travis was very helpful with the equipment and baiting the hooks.   All in all, it was a really great time!

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!

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.

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 Photography schedules two more dates

Saturday May 23^rd and June 20^th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm at the Dallas Arboretum