RISE Adventures 2010 Summer Program Schedule.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RISE SUMMER PROGRAM FLYER Read the rest of this entry »

BIR Hand Cycle Clinic was a Huge Success!

I wanted to thank all those involved with helping facilitate and/or sponsor the handcycle clinic this past weekend! Please share this email with Peanut, Ty and our amazing sponsors. The food was great! The participants and family loved the social atmosphere and chance to explore a variety of handcyles. I have to say that is was a success and fun times had by all! We had 22 participants, 15 family members, and 19 volunteers with a total of 56 people. I couldn’t have done it without you all. Thank you, thank you!

-Lea

CLICK HERE to see more photos from the event.

RISE Kayaking Get’s Going for the Summer!

RISE Kayaking has started for the summer on the Trinity River, McInnish Park,  2340 Sandy Lake Road Carrollton, TX 75006.  Contact Annette Brauer at abrauer@riseadventures.org or (972) 978.8903.

Kevin is a paraplegic that had only kayaked in a swimming pool at a local event. He contacted RISE and wanted a real kayaking experience and the results are life changing. After just one activity he responded, “I just wanted to let you know that I had a great time the last two days of kayaking and would like to go ahead and register again for next Tues and Wed, weather permitting…”

CLICK HERE to see more photos from the event.

RISE Hand Cycling MOVES TO NEW TIME AND DATE.

Tons of you missed a great day of sunshine on the biking trail in Irving on Saturday, April 10^th! We had a blast biking around the trail watching individuals and families biking as well as ultimate frisbee competitions on the sports fields you pass by. I love this trail since you can challenge yourself individually for distance and hills if you choose to do so. There is one part of the trail for the easy ride, but I enjoyed the challenge ride and was thankful to take advantage of a beautiful day. Thanks to RISE Adventures, Lift Aids and C&R Medical for allowing this day to be possible! I highly recommend everyone taking advantage of this program that is held weekly!

Lea Stewart

Starting Sunday, May 9^th we move to every Sunday Morning from 9-12 am at the same location, Campion Trails 6030, Riverside Drive Irving, TX 75039.  What to Bring, You!  Friends or family are welcome to ride along side on their bikes. A jacket or sweater as needed. All other equipment is provided. Water too! These trails are one of our favorites. It’s centrally located and the park is well maintained. The paths are wide and the traffic is minimal. For reservations contact Annette Brauer at (972) 978.8903. abrauer@riseadventures.org.

RISE announces Jacque Stauffer as the new Chairperson of the RISE Board of Directors

Jacque Stauffer, Board Chairperson, earned her bachelor’s degree in Special Education and master’s degree in Kinesiology from Texas Woman’s University. While in college, she worked in the Denton Autism Program and taught Adapted Physical Education at Ann Windle School. After graduation, Jacque taught Adapted Physical Education for Little Elm ISD. Adapted PE is a program designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities who cannot fully participate in general physical education.   Jacque is now teaching Special Education in Lewisville ISD.  In addition to teaching, Jacque coaches competitive gymnastics and a special-needs cheer squad in Frisco, TX. She is currently serving as a logistics officer in the Air Force Reserve.

Team RISE vs. Church Group

Murderball, huh?  No kidding!  I heard the sound of those chairs slamming against each other, and I thought there was no way they could get me out there, but it turned out to be one of the coolest sports I have ever played.  Took a while to get used to the chair and to be able to maneuver my way around the court, abut everyone was really patient, and by the end I felt like I sort of had the hang of it.  Fast-paced, intense, great work-out, fun people– it’s a winner!

Rachel McKneely

CLICK HERE to see more photos of the event.

USQRA Quad Rugby Tournament is Big Eye Opener for Local Team.

On Friday February 5th The North Texas Cowboys played their first real quad rugby game against Possibilities Crown, a team from Southern California.  They lost the game by 16 points…  But at the end of the game no one was hanging their head.  They were ecstatic, they played beyond their expectations and they played hard as a team.  There were a total of 7 teams from all around the country that came to play.  Crown went on to take first place in the tournament and the Cowboys continued to lose the rest of their six games. Read the rest of this entry »

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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RISE is proud to announce our 2010 Program Schedule

A large group of volunteers and committee board members were instrumental in preparing this complex document.  We scheduled over 500 programs dates and will be adding more as we continue to seek collaborative partners and locations for additional programs and events.  You can view this broad spectrum of programs and dates by clicking on this link.  Sign up now!

RISE Kayaking: DO NOT FEAR THE ALLIGATOR GAR!

RISE Kayaking is an excellent outdoor summer activity that anyone can do.   I’m s C-6 quad with limited hand grip and with in no time I was paddling nicely down the Trinity River.  RISE provided an adaptive glove that helped me grip the paddle with ease.  We also experimented with reverse duct tape that ended up working out the best.   The kayaks are very stable flat bottom boats so you don’t have to worry about tipping over and becoming Alligator gar food.  What’s an Alligator Gar you say?  Apparently there is a very large fish with a nasty mess of teeth living in the Trinity River, we did not see one but I will add some old photos to the gallery.   Other than the big, nasty fish that we didn’t see, the Trinity River is surrounded by beautiful trees that make you feel like you are far from the city!   I brought my wife and son and they had a blast!

Sam Houston Trail Park, 101 E. Interstate Highway 635, Irving, TX.

Take a nice trip down the Trinity River. To make reservations contact Paul Gray at pgray@riseadventures.org or 469.762.5075.

Click here for more photos

RISE Quad Rugby is every Friday night from 6–9pm at the Georgia Farrow Recreation Center in Irving.

No reservations are required so come join us.

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 is on Television, again!

Irving Community Television (ICTN) covered TEAM RISE versus the Dallas Harlequins able bodied rugby game. Parkscape is shown on local cable. This is great video

C & R Medical is proud to announce their sponsorship of the “United States Quad Rugby Association” (USQRA) National Developmental Team “Team USQRA”

This is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to facilitate the development of Wheelchair Rugby on the national level for the United States of America. This includes helping sponsor new players and teams learn the sport through instructional clinics, to training top level athletes and preparing our National team to represent the United States at elite international competition.

The sport of Wheelchair Rugby or Quad Rugby was introduced to the United States in 1982 as a quadriplegic equivalent to wheelchair basketball. Since this time, Quad Rugby has grown to become a truly international sport, with teams now competing from around the globe. There are now more than forty-five organized teams in the US not counting the many developmental teams and an estimated twenty international teams, as well as being a Paralympic Sport. Quad Rugby is without question the fastest growing wheelchair sport in the world.

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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 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 Adventure Scuba adds more dates, Saturday May 30th and July 11th

This program is for disabled persons over the age of 10 to experience the freedom the water gives all levels of physical disabilities. All equipment and professional instruction is provided in collaboration with Adventure Scuba. We still need experienced divers that want to help with this program to take the Adaptive Buddy Class. Like all RISE Programs everything is FREE, Adventure Scuba, Dive Buddies, and Diver Certification. Contact Paul Gray at pgray@riseadventures.org or 469-762-5075 and sign up now.

»» More Scuba Pictures

Documents
Required: Doctor’s Release (Fax to 469.442.1381)
Introduction to Adaptive Scuba

RISE Photography schedules two more dates

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

Singles Church Group vs. Team RISE Quad Rugby

Friday, April 24th, 7:00-9:00 pm. After an exciting evening versus the Dallas Harlequins, Lea Stewarts church group decided they wanted to take the same challenge. Please join us for an exciting evening of able bodied versus TEAM RISE Quads. No reservations required.

»» More Quad Rugby Information

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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TEAM RISE versus Dallas Harlequins Recap

Friday Evening, April 10th the TEAM RISE Quad Rugby team soundly defeated the Dallas Harlequins Able Bodied USA Rugby Team before a packed gym of enthusiastic fans! The score wasn’t the story on this fun night. Both team’s player’s competitiveness and camaraderie was a true reflection of the evening.

TEAM RISE salutes the Dallas Harlequins as a truly nice bunch of very talented tough guys. Their fans showed up in force. Our hats are off to TEAM RISE Quad Rugby for putting on a show that will be remembered for a very long time. Are hats are also off to the Dallas Harlequins, a great organization that RISE will continue to work with on many endeavors. This was the first annual event and the tradition is just getting started. Irving Community Television Network filmed the event and will show on local cable in May.

Click here for more event pictures!