Posts Tagged ‘Sports and Recreation’

Chris Downey Takes On the LightHouse Blind Cycle Challenge

On Sunday, October 23rd LightHouse Board member Chris Downey, with the help of two of his friends, rode tandem from LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters to the lighthouse at Point Reyes to raise funds for our programs and services. Donations are still coming in, but so far he has raised over $6000.00 towards his $10,000 goal. Here’s what Chris experienced on his ride, in his own words.

If you’d like to donate towards Chris’ goal, just click here to see his dedicated page: http://lighthouse-sf.org/supportchris/. Thank you!

Chris Downey and Hans Bogdanos on the Golden Gate Bridge

The “LightHouse Blind Cycle Challenge” on Sunday, October 23 lived up to its name as my captains and I rode 64 miles (100km) from the door of the LightHouse in San Francisco to the lighthouse at the southern tip of Point Reyes. Not only did the name celebrate the lighthouse at either end of the ride but it also captured the challenge that played out between the two points – especially the final 15 miles!

To our delight, the day was sunny and warm from start to finish. Heading out of the LightHouse on Van Ness at 8 a.m., we went for a majestic start loop around City Hall before cutting over to Folsom Street to head east to the Embarcadero. We made it around the waterfront before the locals hit the Ferry Building and before the tourists had a chance to descend upon Fisherman’s Wharf. Even the ride across the Golden Gate Bridge was sunny, clear and warm without the powerful gusts of wind that so commonly encircle the towers.

From there we continued north through Sausalito, along a string of bike trails, then rode through the towns of Larkspur, Ross, San Anselmo and Fairfax before clearing the hustle and bustle of Sunday morning Marin coffee traffic. We made quick work of White’s Hill before dropping into the San Geronimo Valley and then riding north to Nicasio. After a brief stretch and an energy bar, we continued around the Nicasio Reservoir, and out to Point Reyes Station where we met my wife and son, Rosa and Renzo. Thinking we had sufficiently “tamed the beast”, we feasted on hearty lunches. We slipped into a premature sense of success, thinking that the end was just around Tomales Bay and beyond Inverness, on the Point Reyes Seashore. Little did we know, the real challenge was about to begin.

Cresting over the hills west of Inverness we heard the sounds of the roaring coastline and felt a false sense of achievement. We began our proud descent down the narrow road that we thought would take us right to the lighthouse. A quick glance at the odometers at the base of the descent was our wake-up call that something else was in store for us: there were 15 miles to go! We spent those next 15 miles traversing the ups and downs of undulating country roads between wind-swept pastures. Cyclists affectionately call these “rollers”.  At this point in our ride, we could think of a few other things to call them.

Our final half-mile was a rather steep ascent up to the cliffs above the lighthouse. We slowed to a pitiful 3.5 mile per hour pace. At times like this, it’s beneficial not to see the climb ahead. There’s no chance to be defeated or demoralized by the sight, so you just hunker down and get into an easy sustainable spin.  At the end, despite fears of the usual cold and windy fog that typifies the Point Reyes peninsula, the sun graced us warmly as we crossed the finish line.

My captains Mike Brown and Hans Bogdanos did a great job piloting the tandem from start to finish with a tag team trade-off between a solo bike and my tandem. These two treasured friends have been riding with me since only four months after I unexpectedly lost all sight, just over three and a half years ago. In particular Mike, an old riding partner of mine, confidently declared (while I was still in the hospital, having lost all sight just days before) that we would start riding tandem together as soon as I was out. Riding with these guys and for the LightHouse made for a most spectacular and memorable ride. There was so much karma in the air that the sun had to glow from start to finish.

Thanks to all who supported the ride, and it’s not too late for those that would still like to take the opportunity to contribute through the first ever LightHouse Blind Cycle Challenge. Together we can reach the goal of $10,000 in support of this wonderful organization that has been and continues to be so critical to Bay Area children, adults and seniors – and even an architect like me, to build or re-build a meaningful, successful and exciting life without sight.

Donate towards Chris’ goal by clicking here: http://lighthouse-sf.org/supportchris/. Thank you!

Sierra Regional Ski for Light Upcoming Events

Sierra Regional Ski for Light (SRSFL) promotes participation in outdoor activities by blind and visually impaired persons in partnership with sighted persons. SRSFL invites participants to three on-the-snow events in 2012. No previous experience with cross country skiing or snowshoeing is required.

There will be two single-day ski and/or snowshoe events. The first is on January 21 and the second is on February 11. Both events take place at Tahoe Cross Country, Tahoe City, California. For further information on the single-day events, contact Betsy Rowell at 916-362-5557 or email montbets@pacbell.net.

The three-day event will take place at Tahoe Donner Cross Country in Truckee, California. For more information contact Cindy Quintana at 510-483-2948 or CindyQ12345@sbcglobal.net.

The deadline to sign up for all events is January 1, 2012. SRSFL has great guides and instructors. For further information or to get the application, visit www.SRSFL.org.

‘Giggle Rather Than Stress’ at the LightHouse on Oct. 15

Come to the LightHouse on Saturday, October 15 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for this month’s yoga workshop, “Giggle Rather Than Stress.”

Find out how to release rather than resist, to breathe rather than struggle and to be rather than do with instructor Nancy Yates. The workshop takes place at our San Francisco office at 214 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco (near the Civic Center BART station). Wheelchair users are welcome to attend.

To RSVP, contact Brandon Young at 415-694-7372 or byoung@lighthouse-sf.org.

Support Chris Downey’s Ride!

LighHouse Blind Cycle Challenge on Sunday, October 23, 2011.

Cycle with or support LightHouse Board Member and Vice President Chris Downey and his tandem captains on an ambitious ride from LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters to the LightHouse at the southern tip of Point Reyes. Chris aims to raise $10,000 for LightHouse programs, including Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa, CA.

For more information, go to http://lighthouse-sf.org/supportchris/.

Christopher Downey, RA, (www.arch4blind.com) is an architect, planner and consultant who lost his sight in 2008.  Today, he is dedicated to creating more helpful and enriching environments for the blind and visually impaired. Whether working as a planning and programming team member or as a client representative, he draws on his unique perspective as a seasoned architect. His 20-year career has encompassed a broad range of award-winning projects, from custom residences to the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, MN, and MIT’s Rotch Architectural Library. Chris joined the LightHouse Board in 2009.

Ski for Light 2012 Invites Applications

Are you a blind or visually impaired adult who cross-country skis or is interested in learning the sport? If your answer is yes, join other active adults from across the U.S. and around the world for Ski for Light 2012.

The 2012 Ski for Light International Week will be held from Sunday, February 5 through Sunday, February 12, 2012, in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. The annual event attracts recreational cross-country skiers from beginners to advanced participants.

Skiers and guides come from every adult age group and occupation. Blind participants are paired with a sighted instructor/guide who assists with skills, technique and endurance while describing the countryside and enjoying the trails. Two sets of parallel tracks are set in the snow, with the skier and guide deciding together how far, how long and on what kind of terrain they will ski.

Many attendees report that the confidence, new skills and friendships they develop are experiences of a lifetime that continue to pay many dividends when they return home.

Participants will stay at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in downtown Provo and ski at the Soldier Hollow cross-country ski area in nearby Midway. Soldier Hollow was the cross-country skiing venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Applications for International Week are still being considered pending space availability. Full payment is due by December 15, 2011.

Visit www.sfl.org to learn more and to submit your application. Additional information can also be obtained by contacting Bob Hartt at bobmhartt@gmail.com or 703-845-3436.

Watch and Play Paralympic Sports on BORP Opening Day

BORP (Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program), the leading provider of accessible sports in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, is having its Opening Day on Saturday, September 10. Opening Day showcases BORP’s sports programs and gives friends, family, community members, etc., the chance to try the sports out.

Opening Day Schedule
10:00 Welcome
10:30 Goalball
11:30 Prep Wheelchair Basketball
12:00 Power Soccer
1:00 Varsity Wheelchair Basketball

Refreshments will be provided.

Please invite your friends, family, other potential participants, community members, teachers, donors and anyone you think might be interested in getting to know BORP’s programs.

Opening Day is at:
James Kenney Recreation Center
1720 8th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

Visit http://www.borp.org/ for more information about BORP.

Join Our New Fitness Partner Program

We want to pair blind athletes with sighted guides for a wide variety of athletic endeavors – anything from working out at the gym and biking, to running the next half marathon. Interested? Sign Up Here!

Wake Up Your Energy and Stretch Into Your Power

Wake up your energy and stretch into your power at Nancy Yates’ special monthly yoga workshop on Saturday, August 20 at the LightHouse, 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. The workshop runs from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Contact Brandon Young at 415-694-7372 or byoung@lighthouse-sf.org to reserve a spot in advance. Or drop by on Saturday to sign up. There is a suggested donation to participate.

Join the California Association of Blind Students at “Sunday Streets” San Francisco!

Summer vacation is beginning to evaporate away. But there is still time to sprinkle in a little more fun into your two months of freedom. Come and join some friends for some San Francisco-style fun! The California Association of Blind Students (CABS) will be venturing into downtown San Francisco to take part in a popular community event known as Sunday Streets. Sunday Streets is a free pedestrian and family-friendly community gathering.

Where: Sunday Streets Tenderloin/Civic Center
When: August 14, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

If you wish to go with the group, CABS will meet at the Powell Muni/Bart Station at 10:30 a.m. and then travel to the Civic center Area. If interested, or have questions please call Darian Smith, event coordinator at 415-215-9809 or e-mail him at dsmithnfb@gmail.com 

Find out the schedule of events at http://www.facebook.com/sundaystreets?sk=events

What is a Sunday Streets event?

Sunday Streets creates miles of car-free roads for people to get out and get active in diverse SF neighborhoods.  Bay Area residents of all ages, families, local businesses, and visitors are all invited to join the fun. Come one come all. No sign-ups required. Participants will enjoy this unique opportunity to safely enjoy the streets and explore new neighborhoods.

How to get to Sunday Streets:

MUNI: These routes serve the event area: Metro lines J, K, L, M, N, T to Civic Center; 5 Fulton, *19 Polk, 21 Hayes, *27 Bryant, 31 Balboa, *38 Geary;

* NOTE: 19, 27 and 38 lines will be re-routed on nearby streets. For trip planning and other Muni-related info, go to www.sfmta.com

Bike: Go to: http://bicycling.511.org/ for help mapping a bike-friendly route from your area to the Civic Center BART area

BART:  Civic Center Station: Exit at 8thand Market Street. For trip planning, go to www.bart.gov

Calling All Volunteers!

Calling all volunteers to help this weekend in the Please Touch Community Garden!

When: Sunday, June 12, from Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Please Touch Community Garden, located on 165 Grove Street at Van Ness. Entrance is in the Lech Walesa alley

Help us beautify and spruce up the Please Touch Community Garden prior to our public celebration and Open House on June 18. On that day we will unveil and hang a new mural, the “Beaded Quilt”, on the LightHouse for the Blind building, adjacent to the garden’s entrance.

We will be cleaning the lot, moving mulch, painting decorative wooden cutouts and doing some planting and overall enrichment to the terrain.

For information or to participate, contact Gk Callahan at 415-694-7335 or pleasetouchgarden@gmail.com