BORP News and Updates | February 2023 | | |
Image: BORP logo in black, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation. | |
In This Issue: Letter from Rick Smith | Revolution Ride 2023 | Cycling | Access NorCal | Fitness | Team Sports | Adventures & Outings | Kayaking | BORP Covid-19 Guidelines | Social Media Links | Mission Statement | Office Address | |
From the Desk of Rick Smith, Executive Director | |
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REV23 is Here – Sign Up Today
The 2023 Revolution Ride, Roll & Stroll, our 21st annual event, is set for Saturday, May 13th, and the new REV registration website is live and you can register to be part of BORP’s biggest and most important fundraising event. Each year the REV supports from 15 - 20% of our operating budget. Please consider riding, strolling, or wheeling in REV23 and support BORP’s adaptive sports, fitness, and recreation programs, which, by the way, continue to grow. In 2022, we were able to add adaptive kayaking, climbing, archery, new fitness classes, and wheelchair rugby to our program menu. Let’s keep it going. There are endless opportunities if we can develop the resources to support them. Join the REV today!
Speaking of fundraising, I am very pleased to announce that Andrew Page has joined BORP’s staff as our new Director of Development. This position has been vacant since Elaine Beale left in mid-2021. Andrew comes to BORP after almost a decade of employment at Cal Shakes. We’re very excited to have Andrew on the team to lead our fundraising efforts. Join me in welcoming Andrew to BORP!
As many of you know BORP is searching for a new executive director. Please spread the word – the full job description and instructions for how to apply can be found here at borp.org.
Here's to a great REV,
Rick Smith, Executive Director
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Image reads: 21st annual BORP Revolution ride, roll and stroll. Saturday, May 13, 2023. Fundraise, ride, volunteer, in-person and virtual REV options. Register and learn more about the 2023 REV at BORP.org. Early bird code for $25 adult registration in February: REV23. | |
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Register today to be a part of the 21st annual BORP Revolution Ride, Roll & Stroll on Saturday, May 13, in beautiful Santa Rosa, CA!
Participants commit to a ride route (roll / stroll up to 10 miles, or choose from the 10, 30, 40, or 45-mile rides through the beautiful wine country) or opt for a virtual activity, a fundraising minimum, and fun. Early bird sign-ups in February: get $25 off adult registration fees with the code REV23.
For folks who would like to support the event by volunteering, we have many volunteer opportunities available to choose from. Click here to learn more.
Image reads: 21st annual BORP Revolution Ride, Roll and Stroll
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Image 1: A large group of cyclists on various types of bikes begin their Revolution ride. Bikes in the forefront are adaptive cycles.
Image 2: A large group of cyclists on various types of bikes are riding on the Revolution's roll and stroll path, heading out on their various bike routes.
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Adaptive Cycling with BORP
Our many different cycles are ready for riders! Come on your own or with pals. Or join a group ride with Jorge: We have five more monthly group rides this season. Each ride will have a different difficulty and distance. If you are interested in joining a group ride, please email Jorge at: Jorge@borp.org.
Group rides:
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Friday, February 17, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Cycle to/from: Cesar Chavez Park. Difficulty: Easy. Distance: 2.5-3 mile loop.
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Friday, March 31, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Cycle to/from: Albany Bulb. Difficulty: Moderate. Distance: 5 mile loop.
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Saturday, April 15, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.: Cycle to/from: Rosie the Riveter. Difficulty: Advanced. Distance: 15-mile loop.
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Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Berkeley Marina. Difficulty: Very easy. Distance: 3 mile loop.
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Friday, June 16, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.: Cycle to/from: Yerba Buena/Treasure Island. Difficulty: Very advanced. Distance: 16-mile loop.
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Image 1: A white, upright, electric trike is parked in the cycling center yard. Image 2: Four people in reclining adaptive cycles pose in the cycling center yard. Image 3: A cyclist wearing a helmet, sunglasses and mask, seated on an adaptive bike. | |
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Adaptive Cycling Center Hours:
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays | Rain or Shine
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
By appointment only. Contact cycling@borp.org 510-848-2930 to ride.
Note: On rainy days folks can ride using non-electric assist cycles. If there are severe weather warnings such as flooding or gusty winds, which can mean flying tree branches, please stay safe at home. When in doubt, please call.
The BORP Adaptive Cycling Center is located at 80 Bolivar Drive, Berkeley
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Access Northern California | |
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East Bay Parks Trails Challenge
Are you up for a fun challenge in nature? East Bay Parks is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of their Trails Challenge. To complete the challenge, hike five of the 20 pre-selected trails, or 26.2 miles of trails within East Bay Regional Park District by the end of the year. BORP has been working with the park district the past 2 years to increase accessibility content for the challenge guidebook and this year’s guide is the best yet.
We are cooking up our own addition to the trails challenge that will have something to do with accessibility. Contact Bonnie at bonnie@borp.org, or Judy at judithsmith313@gmail.com if you’re interested in participating and learning more about it.
Read more about the challenge and BORP’s involvement in this recent Bay Nature Magazine article.
Image: A woman in a wheelchair hikes a densely wooded trail with her service dog.
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Fitness Highlight:
Bollywood Dance Fusion Class
March 20 at 11:30am
We are thrilled to have the Bollywood class return to the studio! Taught by Kiran Easwarachandran, MSS, R-DMT, LCSW, Bollywood Dance Fusion™ is a healing movement modality with one simple idea, that if you move to music that inspires you, and connect with your body in a joyful meaningful way, you will be well on your way to health and healing, wellness and recovery. Learn more and register here.
We also have some great options at our fitness studio at the Ed Roberts Campus! Get info and sign up here for in-person classes or click here for virtual class info.
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Image reads Bollywood Dance Fusion Inclusive Class on a violet background with ornamental Mehndi shapes and a figure dancing. | |
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Wheelchair Basketball
BORP AllStars will be participating in the 14th Annual California Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament against five other teams February 25-26. The AllStars are ramping up their basketball practice, working trying to get better each week. If you want to come by and improve your basketball skills, and compete in fun local tournaments, feel free to join us Mondays from 6-9 p.m.
Interested in joining Wheelchair Basketball? Have questions?
Contact Athletic Director Brandon Young at brandon@borp.org
| Image: BORP AllStars wheelchair basketball team (l to r) Lamile Perry, Jorge Macias, Sam Craven, Chris Fox-Lent, and Eyan Gilder are pictured outside the basketball court in wheelchair Basketball chairs, wearing team jerseys. | |
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Power Soccer
BORP will be hosting the BORP BASH Invitational Power Soccer Tournament on February 25 in Berkeley. This milestone event will be the first official tournament hosted by BORP since the pandemic pause. We are excited to invite fierce competition on our home court. We’d love to have the gym full of the sounds of cheers and good energy again. Please come out to support all the players who will be there! Interested in getting involved? We are looking for a number of reliable volunteers to help support BORP’s power soccer program. In particular, we will need volunteers at the BORP BASH tournament on 2/25. For specifics about power soccer volunteer positions, please contact Brandon Young at brandon@borp.org.
BORP BASH Invitational Power Soccer Tournament
Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
James Kenney Community Center, 1720 Eighth St. Berkeley Ca, 94710
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Tournament Update
by Rian Dindzans, Power Soccer Athlete
After a long hiatus due to COVID-19, BORP’s power soccer program is back up and running, for good this time! The Bombers (non-conference) and Shockers (conference) have been practicing diligently, brushing off the rust and re-building team resilience since players began coming back last spring. Their hard work has paid off recently, as the Bombers continue to improve in practice scrimmages and the Shockers held their own in Phoenix, Arizona.
From January 13 through 15, the Shockers participated in the Phoenix Rising Power Soccer Invitational at the Ability360 Sports and Fitness Center, which welcomed teams from all over North America, including two teams from Canada and the Mexican national team in its international debut. The center and its staff deserve a raucous round of applause for their hospitality and organization, and for the use of their excellent facilities. Those of us affiliated with the BORP Shockers extend our deepest gratitude for the experience, and we hope to play together again soon.
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Youth Basketball Tournament Recap
The Jr. Road Warriors varsity wheelchair basketball team traveled to St. Louis to attend the Arch Madness tournament in January. This was the second tournament for the team, and the first since the winter break. The team entered the tournament 4-0 after sweeping the tournament in Portland last November, and that had them listed as #20 in the country.
This tournament would be a good test for the team, allowing us to see teams that we don’t normally get to see, and teams that are ranked in the top 16. For the final game of day one, we faced the Synergy Bulls from Chicago (ranked #12). The teams battled back and forth throughout the game, with neither team able to pull away. Unfortunately, we were not able to hit the shots we needed and we dropped our first game of the season 55-53. On day two, the team was focused and jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as we faced the WASA Eagles (ranked #16). We coasted to a 56-24 victory. In the final game of the tournament we faced the Mad City Badgers from Madison, Wisconsin. We were able to take a 2-point lead at halftime and went down by six midway through the 2nd half. The team kicked down defensively and settled down on the offensive end of the court, which allowed us to reel them in and pull away down the stretch for a 63-56 win.
There was a three-way tie for first place, with three teams having one loss each. By point differential, the Jr. Road Warriors were named Champions. Brandon Louie was named to the All Tournament Team; the team has extended their record to 8-1.
Next up, the West Coast Conference Championship Tournament in Utah.
| Image: The words 2023 Arch Madness Champions are superimposed over a photo of the Jr. Road Warriors wheelchair basketball team in a gym in front of a large mural of a Viking in the snowy mountains. | |
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Upcoming A&O Events
For all A&O events call or email Lori Gray to confirm your attendance.
lori@borp.org 510-843-4389
Space is limited at all A&O events. Please be sure to sign up early and, if you find you are unable to attend, let us know as soon as possible so that another interested participant has a chance to join the fun. Email Lori for the complete calendar.
Access Day, de Young Museum–Monday, March 20
- Following up on our 2/13 Virtual Highly Descriptive Museum Tour of the "Light! Color! Action! Sargent and Spain" exhibition on John Singer Sargent, the de Young Museum will be holding an access day for this exhibition on March 20.
- For general information about accessibility at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, visit their informational webpage: famsf.org/visit/accessibility
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Reminder: To keep up to date on the latest protocols from BORP around masking, vaccination requirements, and more, please visit borp.org/covid-guidelines. BORP has pandemic-related safety protocols (masking and vaccination requirements) for indoor and outdoor activities, the Adventures & Outings program, and the Adaptive Cycling Center for all individuals aged 5 years and older. | |
Like, Follow & Subscribe to BORP's Social Media Pages | |
Our Facebook page features what’s happening at BORP, news about adaptive sports, fitness, and recreation, and other issues of interest to the disability community. BORP is also on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Follow, like, and subscribe to us across all your social media platforms! | |
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Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program (BORP) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to improve the health, independence and social integration of people with physical disabilities and visual impairments through sports, fitness and recreation programs. www.borp.org
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Image: BORP logo in black, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation | | | | |
