KBF In The News

Let me first start with an apology, this letter should have been written months ago.   My name is Maria Rinaldi. I am a C5-C6 quadriplegic living in Winooski, VT.   Last year, your foundation purchased me adaptive bowling equipment. I have meant several times to write a note of thanks but this has been a whirlwind year for me. I work part time at St. Michael’s College. I direct the Winooski Community Chorus. I have had to travel twice to SC as my partner sold his place there and we had to move everything up here. Then had to travel to Canada for the passing of a relative. And on top of this I traveled to Massachusetts to take driving lessons on an adapted van (just got my driver’s license last week).

Anyway…..

Thank you so very much for adaptive equipment!   Until now my ability to have recreational outings with my friends have been very limited. Many times I would be “left out” as friends hated to see me just sit and watch as they had fun. This equipment has allowed me to participate, becoming an active part of the fun!

Many people have marveled as they watch me actually bowl (not just push a ball down a ramp). It has even inspired others to give it a try!   I can’t tell you the number of people that I have met. Most just come up to see what I am doing. It truly has broken down barriers.

With my limited part time income, there is no way I would have been able to afford this equipment.   Thank you so very much once again!

Maria E. Rinaldi

{ 0 comments }

The Kelly Brush Foundation awarded $45,000 in Kelly Brush Inspiration Grants for adaptive sports equipment to recipients from Maine to California, Executive Director Joyce Wallace announced.

In all, 14 individuals from across the United States who are living with spinal cord injury (SCI) received grants for adaptive equipment including monoskis and handcyles.

“By providing individuals with adaptive sports equipment through Kelly Brush Inspiration Grants, the foundation significantly enhances the lives of those with spinal cord injuries enabling them to get back to the sport they love or to experience a form of recreation brand new to them,” Wallace said.

Grant recipients included Ben Hulin from Southbend, Ind. who suffered a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident. Hulin will use his award to purchase a mono-ski for teaching adaptive skiing at the National Ability Center in Park City Utah and to pursue his dream of alpine racing.

“Each year the Kelly Brush Foundation grows, we are able to make a positive difference in the lives of more people with spinal cord injuries,” said Charlie Brush, Foundation President and father of Kelly Brush.

{ 0 comments }

The 5th annual Kelly Brush Century Ride drew 675 riders and raised $275,000 for spinal cord injury prevention and research on Saturday.

The ride, which began and ended at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt. included 23 participants using hand cycles. The day was postcard perfect with clear blue skies and temperatures in the 70s.

“We are absolutely thrilled to see such strong support for the foundation and our mission,” said Charlie Brush, Kelly Brush Foundation president. “Our thanks goes to each and every rider whose participation helps the Kelly Brush Foundation make a positive difference in the lives of those with SCI and raises the bar for ski racing safety.”

The 100-mile ride raises money for improving ski racing safety, enhancing the quality of life for those with SCI through adaptive sports equipment grants, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team.

The ride continues to grow each year. The number of participants grew by about 175 this year and fundraising increased by about 40 percent.

For every $5,000 raised by a team or individual, the foundation donates adaptive sports equipment in the name of the team or individual who raised the money. In addition, funds raised support ski racing safety grants awarded to ski clubs and racing organizations across the country for safety netting to line race courses and safety gear for racers.

The Kelly Brush Century Ride was started by the Middlebury College Ski Team as a way to raise money to buy an adaptive mono-ski for team member Kelly Brush, who was paralyzed as the result of a ski racing crash. Brush and her family later founded a non-profit, and the ride was opened to the public. On Saturday’s ride, participants rode distances of 28, 50 or 100 miles, with options for 65 and 85 mile loops.

The Kelly Brush Century Ride is made possible thanks to the generosity of participants and sponsors including: VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, Sugarbush Resort, Shearer Audi, Audi of America, KeyBank, Saatchi & Saatchi and Champlain Investment Partners and others.

{ 0 comments }

Local news WPTZ Channel 5 featured the 2009 KBF Century Ride in this video which shows Paralympians Sarah Will and Chris Waddell who rode in that year’s event alongside of 15 other hand cyclists, many of whom are KBF grant recipients themselves.

Together, the hand cyclists raised over $10,000 for the Foundation, funding at least two individual grants for individuals.

WATCH VIDEO here.

{ 0 comments }