February 2011: Matt Fritsch of Sacramento, CA was awarded a Zipp 404 racing wheel with a Powertap hub. In addition to enhancing his training, Matt will use the wheel to help fellow handcyclists develop their fitness. Matt will use the wheel to quantify their current fitness level and assist them in developing a training program to advance their fitness. Matt was injured in a mountain bike accident in 2003 and has used sports to focus on what he can do instead of what he can't. Matt is involved in several other sports, such as triathlons, XC skiing, and Kayaking.
September 2010: Will Lachenauer of Reno, NV was awarded a PowerTap hub to help him train with more purpose and specificity. Will was injured in May 2008 while motocross racing. He has quickly adapted to life as a paraplegic and is already excelling at Handcycling. In 2010, Will won the Tour De Nez and Tour of Utah, along with other top placings. Will hopes to eventually qualify for the US National team with end goal of participating in the Paralympic Games.
August 2010: Alvin Malave of West Hills, CA was granted an Invacare Force R Handcycle. This racing handcycle will help Alvin further his athletic endeavors as he makes his way into competitive racing. Alvin was a victim of a hit and run when he was run over while sitting in his front yard and is now paralyzed from the waist down. He also participates in several other sports as well, such as basketball, marathons, triathlons, tennis, and snow skiing.
August 2010: Niel Harding of Utah was awarded a $1500 cash grant towards the purchase of a Handcycle. Niel’s family is his number one priority, but he still finds time to Handcycle. At 57 years old, Niel is a national level rider and one of the strongest competitors on the US Handcycling circuit. Niel’s results this year include overall division wins at Tour De Nez and Utah Omnium, and a Bronze medal at the US National Handcycle road race.
July 2010: US Handcycling was awarded a $2000 grant in order to assist with putting on a developmental disabled cycling camp at the US Olympic Training Center in September. I attended the very same camp, and it was a great experience. I learned about Handcycling, but also learned how others with similar disabilities live and deal with life.
July 2010:Tricia Downing was awarded a $500 grant to assist her in training for Ironman Hawaii in October. Tricia was injured in a traffic collision while riding her bicycle in September 2000. She quickly made the transition to a disabled athlete and has competed in over 50 triathlons ranging from Sprints to Ironman distance. Tricia completed her master’s degree in Disability Studies and Sports Management, and frequently conducts motivational talks.<
June 2010: Tom Kahler of Tennesse was granted a set of Bike-On carbon fiber racing wheels built by Andy Barker. I met Tom at the Olympic Training Center in May of 2010 and we spent a week riding and training together. In addition to his job and volunteering, Tom has taken in his 3 nieces (16,15,13) in order to provide them a safe place to live due to turmoil in their family life. Tom is well deserving of this grant, but I hope he doesn’t use the wheels to beat me, as we are in the same Handcycle racing divison.
April 2010: Craig Hospital’s recreation department was granted a Invacare Force Handcycle. Having been a patient at Craig and my interaction with the recreation department, made this an easy choice. I was first introduced to Handcycling at Craig, and although discouraged at first, things are going well for me now. The Handcycle will have positive effects on countless patients over the coming years.
April 2010: John Vcelka received a Freedom Ryder Handcycle. John is a paraplegic living in Colorado who I met while I was a patient at Craig Hospital. John is extremely active in the disabled athletic community. One of his primary objectives is to get people involved in numerous disabled sports, including hand-cycling. Some of John's other activities and accomplishments include the following: Instructing golf and hand-cycling at Avon Women's Wheelchair camp, volunteering over 400 hours at Craig Hospital, organized several off road hand-cycling events, organized the World Series of Wheelchair Tennis tournament, organized the Double Dam Handcycle ride, organized introduction to downhill skiing, quad rugby demonstration at Regis University, and is executive director of Colorado Wheelchair Tennis Foundation. By awarding John the Handcycle, it has the potential to effect numerous people through his efforts to expose as many people to hand-cycling as possible.
February 2010: Addie Killam received a $400 grant so she could attend a triathlon camp put on by another disabled athlete Tricia Downing. I didn't realize it until after I had awarded her the grant, but Addie and I previously met while patients at Craig at the same time. I have personally attended a disabled triathlon clinic once and it was very helpful.
December 2009: Seattle Adaptive Sports was awarded a $1000 grant towards the purchase of 10 new basketball wheelchairs. Seattle Adaptive Sports is an organization that is dedicated to the promotion of the well being of physically challenged individuals, by giving them the opportunity to participate and compete in athletic and recreational activities, including basketball and track.
December 2009: Roy and Debbie Knickman of Newbury Park, CA were granted $500 to assist in caring for their son. Roy is a former professional cyclist and bronze medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games. Roy and Debbie have a teen son, Andreas, who is battling bone cancer. Our small donation is to help them in their fight against the cancer that is physically, mentally, and potentially financially draining.
November 2009: Ben Brown of Nova Scotia, Canada was granted an Invacare Top End Eliminator OSR racing chair. Ben, is a 21 year old T-5 paraplegic as a result of an atv motocross crash. He continues to race motocross against able bodied riders as a paraplegic on his Yamaha YFZ 450, which is modified to for his disability. Ben’s goal is to make the Canadian Para-Olympic team in track and field. He plans to some day to be become a disability counselor or a disability sports organizer.
October 2009: Monique Petrov of San Rafael, CA was granted $500 to assist in her recovery from a cycling accident. Monique was an acquaintance of mine that I had met at several triathlons over the years. In September 2009, she was preparing for Ironman Hawaii in October. Petrov was critically injured when a minivan turned left in front of her. She underwent extensive surgery for a broken arm, a fractured femur, multiple broken vertebrae, a punctured lung, a shattered kneecap and extensive scrapes to her face and body.
October 2009: Ventura Chapter of the Best Day Foundation was presented $1000 at our annual fundraising event October. Best Day helps kids with special needs build confidence and self-esteem through safe, fun, adventure activities like surfing, bodyboarding, kayaking, snow-tubing, and more. Best Day creates special days for kids with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Blindness, Cancer, Spinal Cord Injuries, and other physical and developmental challenges.