End of Summer Bash VI Promo

The End of the Summer Bash is Saturday, September 25, 2010 9am – 3pm at Meadowmere Park in Grapevine, Texas.  This Free Event provides a variety of outdoor leisure activities for those in the community of all ages with physical disabilities and their families.

Activities: Water Skiing, Scuba Demonstration, Jet Skis, Sailing, Kayaking, Swimming, Fishing, Disability Golf, Camping, Archery, Horseback Riding, Hand Cycling, Quad Rugby, Sled Hockey Equipment, Basketball, Climbing Wall, Face Painting, Remote Control Sailboats, Children’s Playground, Petting Zoo, Wood Carving, Silent Auction and much more…

Free food and drinks under the Grapevine AMBUC’s Food Court big tent.

Special Live Performances by JB Clark, and the Oak Lawn Symphonic & Marching Band.

Free Drawing for merchandise and gift-cards.

RISE is accepting preregistration for End of Summer Bash VI via email. Click on this link eosb@riseadventures.org and let us know how many folks in your group will be in attendance.

This years EOSB VI Title Sponsor is the Baylor Institute for Rehablitation.

Additional major contributors are: PepsiCo Enable, Southwest Airlines, Southwest Securities, Grapevine Parks & Recreastion Department, C&R Medical Supplies, and Lift-Aids.

We also appreciate the support of: Adventure Scuba, Hero’s on the Water, Classic Chevrolet, Pickles Custom Golf, Metroplex Adaptive Water Sports, John Horn’s Woodturning, Infinity Air, CIB Group, Backwoods, Grapevine AMBUCS, and Les Lacs Yacht Club.

CLICK HERE for a printable flyer for the event.

CLICK HERE for map.

WATCH SOME VIDEO FROM LAST YEAR’ EVENT!

RISE remembers Steve Carlson

Steve Carlson, July 24, 1961 – August 9, 2009,by Paul Gray/CEO/RISE Adventures, Inc.
It has almost been a year since RISE lost a good friend and staff member, way too early in life. Steve helped establish RISE and led our hand cycling, fishing, and children’s hunting and camping programs. He is sorely missed. He was always proud of his involvement with the organization and the commitment to our mission. I believe Steve is in a better place now. I also believe things happen for a reason even though I struggle to understand why so early in life when he had so much to offer of himself to others. We have struggled with a fitting way to permanently memorialize Steve and his involvement with RISE. I am open to any and all suggestions that will keep his name and spirit alive. Please email me at pgray@riseadventures.org.

This link is last year’s memorial produced by Chris Goad.

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 »

Main Street Days Grapevine, May 21-23rd, Fun in the Sun!

Special Thanks goes to Portable Events for providing the awesome stage presentation. Check out this awesome set up at www.portableevents.com and tell Michael RISE sent you. Thanks to our other sponsors for their participation all weekend long; City of Grapevine Parks and Recreation Department, C & R Medical Supplies, Lift-Aids, Pickles Custom Golf, and Adventure Scuba. RISE Staff and Volunteers endured the event demonstrating adaptive equipment and enjoying the festival.  CLICK HERE to see more photos of the event.

RISE Adventures First Annual, “Kickin’ off the Summer Bash I” CEO Recap:

The RISE First Annual “Kickin’ off the Summer Bash I” held May 1, 2010 at Meadowmere Park on Lake Grapevine, was truly blessed! After weeks of concern on the lingering winter weather and the forecast of storms for the weekend, no storms or rain ever occurred. The event was held to get first timers acclimated to our programs, mission accomplished! All programs at the event were regular RISE weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly activities.  RISE owns our own equipment for each program and collaborative partners supply the rest.

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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 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.

TEAM RISE participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade held in Dallas on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

Dressed in green and RISE apparel, RISE Adventures participants pushed, pedaled, walked, and road on the float pulled by the magic bus down the road of the St. Patrick’s parade in Dallas.  The streets were packed with thousands of festive party goers and spectators on a beautiful Saturday morning.  Everyone was draped with colorful beads and bright smiles.  Team RISE quad rugby players bashed it up for the crowd and they would yell “do it again!” every time.  It was a blast, I couldn’t believe how enthusiastic the crowd was, we felt like rock stars!

The RISE Adventures bus pulled a float decorated and sponsored by Dallas Home Renovations while  RISE volunteers and participants threw candy, beads and t-shirts to the cheering crowd.  The 31st annual event on Greenville Avenue drew about 80,000, according to the Dallas Morning News. This was a great event and everyone had a blast, if you missed out be sure to attend next year.  CLICK HERE to see more photos of the parade.  CLICK HERE to see the blog on the Dallas Morning News.

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.

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.

Hand Cycling Continues to Roll for the Month of October.

Kathi Eteaki was our newest rider Saturday. She came to the EOSB V and tried the hand cycles and got hooked. She rode for about an hour and even got to enjoy being part of the Ghandi Peace Walk which was being held at the same time.

We ride every Saturday from 9am until NOON at Campions Trail in Irving. Anyone interested in hand cycling should make reservations and come on out for a good time.

Contact me at bear-tech@msn.com or 817.637.4518.
Ty “Bear” Johnson.

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

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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Huge Success! TEAM RISE Sled Hockey Party

The TEAM RISE Sled Hockey Introductory Party held Saturday, February 7th was a huge success with a total attendance of 62 folks. I found out early Friday morning that there was a schedule conflict with our ice time that we get for free. The center had accidentally double booked the ice.

TEAM RISE went into action with an alternate plan to make sure that everyone had a great time. We quickly developed a new plan in their parking lot as an outdoor event. We set up a tent and prepared lots of food and drinks. We set up three outdoor programs to introduce our participants to other RISE Programs. Rugby was a big hit as well as well as Handcycling and Golf.

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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