Summer Camp July 15-21!!!

The entire staff here at Push to Walk has been working really hard to make next week’s Summer Camp a great experience for clients, campers, family members and friends. There are SO many fun and interesting events planned; there truly is something for everyone!

Sunday, July 15 kicks off the week with an Ice Cream Social at the Riverdale Senior Community Center at 4 pm with Guest Speaker Scott Chesney. This is a great opportunity to meet Scott and listen to what I know will be an awesome presentation. Please join us!

Our daily schedule for client workouts is very busy, and we are excited to have some former clients returning and a few new people joining our current clients.

Afternoon/evening activities include an Art Workshop, Quad Rugby Demonstration, Trivia Night, Open House with Dr. Wise Young at Rutgers, a Music & Pizza Night, and an Adaptive Sports Day on Saturday to cap off the week. Scott Chesney will also be speaking at 6 pm on Saturday, June 21 at Central Park of Morris County.

During the week, we are hosting 2 Open Houses: Tuesday, July 17 from 9:30-5 pm and Thursday, July 19 from 9:30-3:30 pm. If you’ve never been to Push to Walk, or haven’t visited in awhile, please stop by! In addition to seeing equipment demos, we’ll have an MV-1 car (the only auto built from the ground up to be accessible), hand cycles, sno-cones and more!

All are invited: doctors, physical therapists, prospective clients, neighbors, friends, and any one else interested or curious about what we do!

This is our chance to show people who we are and how we help people with spinal cord injuries strengthen themselves, lead productive lives and increase the quality of their lives each and every day. We do this with YOUR support, so THANK YOU!!!

Here’s the link to our website to see detailed information on Summer Camp week:    http://www.pushtowalknj.org/summer-camp.html. Scroll down to Event Flyers or Event Information, and you can click on the particular links below those categories. Or you can call us at 862-200-5848 or email Stephanie at slajam@pushtowalknj.org. We are asking for RSVP’s for certain events, so please let us know if you’ll be attending.

Hope to see you at Summer Camp July 15-21!!!

Cynthia

Read Full Post »

Success for Team Push to Walk in the NJ Marathon

Congratulations to all of our Team Push to Walk members for their participation in this past weekend’s Half and Full Marathon in Long Branch, NJ. They did awesome!! Every member of the Team committed to complete the distance and raise funds for Push to Walk and Dr. Wise Young’s SCI Clinical Trials for a Cure. Our preliminary amount raised was almost $28,000, but we still have to tally the final figures.

Thank you to all 22 people who ran or rode their hand cycles to benefit Push to Walk. One of our clients, Celso, pictured here, was the FIRST person to break the finish line tape. It was his first event, and he is excited to pursue the sport further. When he becomes famous, we can say “it all started at Push to Walk…………” Ha ha!

Current and former clients, client family members and friends, and friends of Push to Walk all joined together for a common goal – to support Push to Walk and provide scholarship funds to people with spinal cord injuries who need our program but are unable to pay the full amount. Our scholarship fund will help offset the cost of the program for some who would not otherwise be able to come for exercise workouts. Financial barriers are often the main reason why people don’t come to Push to Walk, or stop coming after a period of time because their money runs out.

Our runners and riders committed themselves to our cause, and we are so thankful for their interest and dedication. Thank you!!!

Read Full Post »

Training for the NJ Marathon

As part of Team Push to Walk, my son Darren will be riding his hand cycle in this Sunday’s NJ Marathon in Long Branch (May 6). He is one of 5 clients on the Team, and I have witnessed the transformation of some of them during their training. I am so proud of everyone! My husband & I have had the opportunity to ride several times with Darren as he trains. Each ride, I see him getting stronger and more prepared to go the distance. In between outdoor rides, he has been using a SCI-FIT hand bike either here at Push to Walk or at a gym near his apartment. After yesterday’s ride, I am confident in his ability to do the entire distance of 26.2 miles. I know he can do it!

What he found yesterday, though, was how important it is to be well fueled before the race! Just as a car needs enough gas to get from point A to point B, so does an athlete for an endurance event. Rest, food and hydration are all key components of a successful event. Fortunately, he experienced how he felt from not having enough to eat this week, and now be better prepared for next week. For all you athletes preparing for the big day – eat well and eat properly several days prior to the event. Better preparation will definitely pay off!

Thank you to all of our clients, and their families and friends who are participating on their behalf, as well as our Push to Walk staff and friends who are committed to our cause. So many people have dedicated their time and fund raising efforts on our behalf, and your support will enable us to offer Scholarship Funds to our clients and support Dr. Wise Young and his SCI clinical trials.

Have a great race, everyone! I’ll be there cheering you on!

Cynthia

Read Full Post »

Boyd Melson Improves to 8-0!

In a unanimous decision Saturday night at the Roseland Ballroom, Boyd Melson beat Shawn Williams, improving his record to 8-0. I’m not a huge fan of boxing, but I do enjoy watching Boyd. Knowing that he is so passionate about raising money for SCI Clinical Trials in the U.S. makes me a huge fan! At times I feel like his mother, worrying about him getting hurt; at other times I am rooting for him to knock out his opponent. I pretty much hold my breath during each round!

Boyd donates all of his winnings to Dr. Wise Young at the Rutgers SCI Project, has formed Team Fight to Walk, and has enlisted the help of other boxers to support the cause.

Check out his website: www.teamfighttowalk.com and www.boydmelson.com. Boyd is a special kind of person, and I am glad to know him!

Roseland Ballroom, Jan 21, 2012

Read Full Post »