FSWC Update March 1, 2010
Ridgemont High has nothing on us, fast times abound here too...
As the time of this posting, Owen, our first trainer about to be certified in the Dardzinski Method at Project Walk, is just arriving Carlsbad California. If he made it through Vegas, that is. Owen starts his training tomorrow, and in one short month will be back home in Regina ready to work with our new clients!
Our founder, Chris Lesanko is also traveling to Project Walk, and should be just behind Owen. If he made it through Vegas, that is.... Chris will also be getting re-acquainted with the trainers and staff in California, and keeping Owen on his toes. This should be an exciting time for the boys, and we know they will have lots to talk about and much knowledge to share when they get back. Good luck Owen and Chris!
Before the boys left to escape the end of another Saskatchewan winter, we sure got a bunch done in a short period of time. The grand total we have raised, in equipment and cash has risen to over $70,000, and hopefully we can see that total grow as we await some key applications and grant submissions to come back. We can’t explain how much this means to all of us, and as always it is because of the steadfast support of the community around us. Thank you from each one of us, to each one of you.
In other compelling news, you may have heard or seen us in the public eye lately. Over the last few months various members of our team have been featured in interviews with CTV Television, CBC Television, and CBC Radio 1. To the media who are interested in us and who have helped to tell our story, thank you so much. Please don’t wander too far away…
One last bit of info to share with you, and this one will be of keen interest our potential clients: We are currently working with the kind folks at Project Walk to develop a preliminary application form for those hoping to partake in a specialized recovery program. There are a few necessities that you will need to take care of before beginning a program, such as a doctor’s release and a bone-density test, so we hope to have all the information available to you shortly. Keep emailing us with your questions, and we will keep up the good fight-helping people with spinal cord injuries live better.
A quick shout to our Paralympic Athletes getting set for the games in Vancouver; may the spirit and drive of our mentor, our inspiration, and our good friend Clayton Gerein guide you to success. And a big congrats to all the uprights who served us very well with the most gold medals in a winter games ever! Go Canada!
The FSWC Board
»»YEAR END UPDATE
YEAR END UPDATE
Well, with 2009 now only a memory and 2010 already underway, the First Steps Board of Directors has had a chance (albeit a short one!) to reflect on our successes of the past year. We’ve gained a substantial amount of momentum, support, and new friends during our journey to open Canada’s first Project Walk Provider Facility, and we’d like to say thank you to everyone who has helped.
Most recently, the First Steps crew took to assembling a cabaret at the end of October with, you guessed it-a Hallowe’en theme. We saw a great turnout of supporters new and old, and we rocked the night away while raising $6,000 towards getting our first trainer Certified in the Dardzinski Methodä at Project Walk. The event was a huge success due to the strong turnout of people who attended and partook in the festivities and also in large part to the generous sponsors who made the event possible. Head over to the Hallowe’en cabaret page to see who our wonderful sponsors were and please support them any time you have the opportunity. These are community minded businesses and they are all helping to make Regina the great place it is. Thanks again to all, hope you had as much fun as we did!
Just before the Hallowe’en bash we had a chance to get together with a packed house of friends at the Press Box Sports Bar. Like every FSWC event there were good times, great prizes, and like always, lots of support for people with spinal-cord injuries. With all the prosperity of the events of the steak night we deposited over $2,000 into the FSWC account. The Press Box staff were enthusiastic hosts, and were able to comfortably accommodate more wheelchairs in the bar then I’m sure have ever been there at one time. Not one flat tire!
Another major accomplishment for us came when we got a much anticipated call from the folks at Telemiracle. Though they receive countless applications for support, they chose FSWC as the recipient of a Gait Trainer-a crucial piece of equipment for our success valued at over $25,000. Our appreciation and gratitude cannot be overstated-this is a thrilling piece of news for us to share with our supporters, and will be a key piece of our client’s collective recovery.
Now back to 2010. Our next major goal is to secure a location for us to begin serving clients upon the arrival of our first certified trainer back from Project Walk. Plans are currently being arranged to have the training take place from February-March, putting us on track to begin programs here shortly thereafter. With seven clients waiting patiently to begin their own specialized exercise-based recovery program and several others watching our progress closely, securing a location is paramount now. We have had preliminary conversations with a few local businesses who are eager to help, but if you know of a place that might accommodate us, even on a preliminary basis, please let us know!
Finally, our first quest this year to reward a few First Steps supporters with some really cool prizes has begun. Starting in mid-January we will be selling raffle tickets for a number prizes sure to please their eventual winners. We hope to put a few more bucks in the bank to help cover the cost of bringing a Project Walk trainer back to Regina to complete the training and certification process. We’ll have a raffle page up under the ‘events’ tab shortly, so check back soon, and if you can help sell a few tickets please let us know! You can email: info@fswcregina.ca
To everyone who has come on this incredible journey over the last year, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We can’t wait to see the determined looks on the faces of our clients when their programs continue in our new facility, and it’s thanks to you.
All the best in 2010, and here’s hoping we can all achieve our goals together!
The FSWC Board of Directors
»»HALLOWE'EN CABARET SUCCESS!
Woodstock for Wellness - Our tribute to the 60s and 70s
FRIDAY OCTOBER 30, 2009
September 19, 2009: Great news, Our Halloween cabaret for Oct. 30th is officially confirmed! We have a bunch of really cool things planned to keep everyone well entertained throughout the evening, and we hope to have a really strong turnout. Our steak night on Sept. 10 was a great success, and we hope to build on that momentum and give our supporters an evening of lots of fun as a big thank you for all your support. This will be an event to remember, and everyone who joins us is guaranteed a fantastic night.
The theme of the cabaret is 'Woodstock'- Our tribute to the 60's and 70's. Costumes, Woodstock theme or otherwise are strongly encouraged. Prizes for best costumes will be given out, among many other prizes too. Our goal is raise the funds necessary to have our first trainer sent down to Project Walk (projectwalk.org) to be certified. With the incredible support we've seen so far, this goal is well within reach! Check out fswcregina.ca to learn more about what we are doing.
Thanks again so much for helping support those with spinal cord injuries
in our province.
First Steps Wellness Centre hopes to make a significant impact on improving
the health and quality of life of our friends with SCI, and your support
will allow us to do that. The poster is attached, and you can reach
me directly for tickets or more information.
JUST
ANNOUNCED!HARVARD BROADCASTING has confirmed they are a major sponsor of this event! Listen to The Wolf, CKRM or Lite 92 for our ad over the next few weeks. Thanks Harvard for your generous support! You Rock! (and two-step, and listen easily!)
We look forward to seeing everyone on October 30th!
For tickets and information contact Brian Ganong
306.531.9135
»»STEAK NIGHT FUNDRAISER
September 10th came and went with a hugely succesful bang!
September 15, 2009: Our first official fundraiser brought out a large number of our firends new and old. The Press Box Sports Bar hosted a great evening, and we were overjoyed to have packed the place to the brim.
With the extremely generous support of everyone in attendance, we have been able to deposit over TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS in the FSWC Fund! We can't thank everyone enough for not only sharing in our vision of helping those with spinal cord injuries, but also for opening your wallets and proving that FSWC should be a reality. Our deepest gratitude goes out to everyone of you.
Although many prizes found their way into deserving hands, a few auction item winners are worth noting. Lina Van De Sype took home a packaqe of ladies beauty products, LeeAnn Love is enjoying her new Rider team signed football, and Glenda Hunter's name jumped out of the baket for the Ottawa Senators tema signed jersey.
The First Steps Board of Directors hopes to send our first trainer down to Project Walk in sunny California for training later this year. To help achieve this goal we are making one last push in 2009 for support. As the final details get sorted out in the next few days, we hope to officially announce a Holloween cabaret at the end of October. All the news will be sent out as soon as it is confirmed.