Giving Steve instructions on my handcycle

“I met Chris and Gretchen Kaag at Lowe’s in May and just last week I finally took Chris up on his offer to lend me a handcycle. Not only have I been riding the handcycle (and loving it!)…I am already imagining getting fit, enjoying both recreational and competitive cycling…This handcycle has literally changed my perspective of my neighborhood in one week.”

Words spoken from Steve Johnson of Exeter, PA and newly exposed to the world of handcycling. Steve is 49 years old and was injured in a mountain bike accident in 1993 and has no voluntary movement or sensation below his chest. He was very active before his injury and had competed in road running races including two half-marathons and one marathon but where he excelled was cycling and duathlons (run/bike/run). After he came to us with an interest in our handcycles, we lent him our XLT Gold to try out and see what he thought. Well he thought enough of it that he submitted a request for funding from IM ABLE and we will be granting him his first handcycle, a Top End Force R. If the timing works he will be using his new wheels in the 1st Annual IM ABLE Duathlon being held on Sept 18, 2010. If his handcycle does not come in on time he will use ours where he will compete as a team along with his family. We are proud to give Steve the opportunity to compete like he did before his injury.

Steve taking my bike for a spin

It’s with instances like this that I am reminded of why I started IM ABLE due to the feeling I get when I can show someone all that they CAN do! The possibilities can be as grand as competing in races but can be as simple as taking a ride or run with your kids, spouse or friends. To become able to get out and go head to head with or alongside your able-bodied counterparts is a feeling of empowerment that anyone with a disability should experience. The excuses as to why you cannot go out and partake in physical activities are taken away and you’re given the opportunity to be included and involved with getting your heart rate up. That effect is not only beneficial to your physical but your emotional well-being and we’re excited to be a part of sharing that with anyone who gives us the chance!

Gretchen Kaag, Chris Kaag and Matt DiCintio after completing the tri

On August 8th, IM ABLE was represented at the Steelman Olympic Distance Triathlon in Quakertown, PA and was completed as a team consisting of myself, my wife Gretchen and good friend Matt. We finished 14th out of 19 teams which isn’t stunning but the day was great to get out and show the can do spirit of what our organization represents. I am working on my swimming as well as wheeling (using a racing chair for the run portion) and it is my intention to be able to complete a tri myself. Until then I will keep moving and get out and compete with the help of my friends.

Lauren and Uncle Chris who will compete in this years Marine Corps Marathon

Lauren was born with Cerebral Palsy on January 31, 1986.  She is 24 years old, the middle of three children.  Throughout her life she was exposed to different adaptive sports.  She has tried skiing, rowing, swimming and therapeutic horseback riding.  Lauren was on the swim team in high school and her coach adapted the competition, allowing her to participate in most of the swim meets.

Lauren graduated from Lower Merion HIgh School and went on to take a few courses at Cabrini College. She realized that it would be difficult to complete college at the pace she was going and decided to change directions.

Recently, Lauren moved into her own place in the city and is meeting the challenges of living independently with an assistant.   She has continued to look for a job, or a volunteer position that will enable her to participate socially in life.

In 2007, Lauren’s cousin, Travis Manion, was killed in Iraq.  Travis was very attentive to Lauren, often coming to her performances and fund raising events for  ”Acting Without Boundaries”, a non-profit theater company where Lauren performs annually.  (Acting is Lauren’s main love in life.  She is an amazing actress and loves to perform.)  When the family decided to run the Marine Corps Marathon, Lauren was unable to participate.  She stood by the first year and cheered all of them on.  The second year, her father pushed her in a manual wheelchair for the 10K, and last year, her brother pushed her for the 10K…again in the manual wheelchair (very difficult).

This year, her uncle Chris has gotten permission to push Lauren in the marathon.  Lauren would love to participate at that level and honor her cousin, who she admired immensely.

IM ABLE is proud to give Lauren the opportunity to get out there with her Uncle Chris and participate in this years Marine Corps Marathon. For more information about this great family and what they’re doing to honor their fallen family member Travis, please visit www.travismanion.com

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We are pleased to announce that Jessica Rogers, who was a 2010 recipient of a new racing chair from IM ABLE, competed in the Junior Nationals and won 1st Place in all of her events!!! She competed in the 100, 200, 400 and 800m competitions and showed what she could do with equipment that was made for her.

Congratulations Jessica!!!!

On July 24th, a small neighborhood in Lancaster, PA was host to a tremendous turnout for the Grandview Grand Prix. This was a criterium, or a 1 lap loop done multiple times depending on your skill category. This was the 1st race in the mid atlantic for disabled athletes and a great showing of 25 racers! 14 laps of a 1 mile loop through the beautiful neighborhood of Grandview Height on a cool 110 degree (with humidity) day!!!! There were handcyclists from all over the country and to be involved with this race was truly rewarding. Being in PA, we don’t often have the opportunity to get out and ride with fellow handcyclers so when the opportunity is there to ride side by side and compete, I certainly had to take it. Met a lot of great people from different walks of life and with different conditions but the attitude was all the same. No Excuses…Just Move! Some of the able-bodied riders I spoke with were very excited about our heat as most haven’t seen a handcycle let alone seen us race.

On my last lap right before I crashed!

I have to thank Jack Poplar, one the the organizers, for including us this year. He also welcomed me and some gents from the Paralyzed vets of America to come out and speak to patients and therapists at Acadia, that treat people with brain injuries. Showing people what the possibilities are regardless of your disability was rewarding. I think this is a very positive step to making bike races inclusive and to show everyone that despite being disabled there are some truly remarkable athletes.

For more great shots of the day visit our gallery as well as a gallery from Joe Mallis who was nice enough to share his shots

A group of cyclists from the Bethesda/Arlington, VA who sported our new shirts!!

I recently met Mike Griffith through a contact at UDS (United Disabilities) in Lancaster and was told about his circumstances and his outlook. As with any situation, I welcomed the opportunity to meet him and see what I could do for him. Mike is a double amputee and formerly a professional football player from the York, PA area. He lost his legs in a work accident involving an acid spill and he has lived with the residual effects that limit his mobility. As a result he has gotten to the point where he wants to make a change and I was happy to help him take the next step.

Mike taking his first spin on one of our handcycles

We were able to fit him to one of our handcycles so he could get out and ride for the first time since his injury and this past weekend we hooked up to go through an IM ABLE workout involving the Krankcycles and some upper body exercises. Being that it was about 98 degrees in our facility made for a pretty grueling workout but when we were done you could see the satisfaction in his face that he was able to perform at a higher level then he had been. This is just the first step to Mike’s road to getting back into the shape he wants to be.

Warming up before our workout on the Krancycles

(L-R) Rob Deller (2010 handcycle recipient) - Lebanon, PA, Rob Leiser - Nazareth, PA, Mike Slotwinski- Claymont, DE, Chris Kaag - Reading, PA, Eric Kaag (2008 handcycle recipient) - Adamstown, PA

Taking advantage of a break in the heat we’ve experienced in PA, we took to the Perkiomen Trail starting in Oaks, PA to get a group of handcyclists together to put some miles in. I just met Rob L and Mike S and was glad they could join us for a good 20 mile ride on a great path. We’re always looking for people to join us to ride so please give us a shout if you’d like to roll with us!

Last 2 miles coming off the bridge

On Sunday June 27, 2010 I set out to accomplish something I hadn’t done since I was 12 and really didn’t prepare myself for what the day would actually mean to me. Me and a large group of some close friends started at 8am to hike The Pinnacle on the Appalachian Trail in PA and push the envelope of what the mountain handcycle could do. The terrain, while rocky and steep in spots, was manageable but challenging but the group of friends I had with me who are all part of the Corps Fitness family and they push themselves harder than anyone else I know so I couldn’t let them down.

When we were about 50 yards out four of my guys had to hoist me and the bike over the boulders that stood between me and the pulpit, the overlook that I hadn’t seen since for so long. This was probably the most difficult part to let 4 people risk injury carrying me over the rocky terrain but working as a team they brought me safely over the last hurdle. Once they set me down and I was able to see the view I was smiling from ear to ear! As quickly as that smile hit I was overcome by emotion as I looked around and saw the people who were there to experience this day with me those feelings made me start to cry. Yes cry! I can’t describe that overwhelming sense of pride in the accomplishing a goal but also in the feeling of being surrounded by some of the greatest people who helped me to realize that goal. ”A man counts his fortune by the good friends he has, not by the number of dollars in his pocket.” I am a rich man.

It is my goal with the IM ABLE Foundation to show people what is possible and to give them the opportunity to make it happen. My disability has not slowed me down but rather has inspired me to push the limits of what someone with a disability can do and in the process make us all, disabled and able-bodied, more aware of what we are capable of. Dig deep and you can accomplish anything!

My good friend Jan captured this emotions of this day perfectly in her post if you’d like to read more.

Matt on his first bike ride!

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting Matt and exposing him to the world of handcycling. Matt lives with Spina Bifida and had never ridden a regular bike due to some limitations with his legs. He currently uses a wheelchair to get around but being 19 years old he had some energy that I was determined to use wisely! I gave him the use of my personal ride and after some initial apprehension he was doing laps around the parking lot in front of the facility. As with anything new it takes a little getting used to and handcycling is no different. Not very intuitive to ride with your arms but once you get the hang of it it’s well like riding a bike.

He spent about an hour with us and we loaned him one of IM ABLE’s other handcycles to take with him to get some practice and encouraged him to apply for a grant if he in fact would want a set of wheels of his own. I was excited to get some feedback from one of his therapists and friend who told me his dad hadn’t seen him this enthusiastic about anything in a long time. I’m sure there will be more posts on here about Matt and his experiences!