Volunteering at the No Barriers festival at Shake-a-Leg, I realized that there really are no limits to what we are all are capable of. When your heart is in it, and your spirit is strong, you can make anything happen!
Follow the links below to learn more about fantastic organizations, cool technology, and incredible people:
Next weekend is No Barriers 2009 at Shake-a-Leg Miami.
I have mentioned Shake-a-Leg before in my story about the camp for ventilatation assisted children and have mentioned the Festival before in my post about it's founder, Erik W., who is also the first blind man to climb all Seven Summits. The No Barriers Festival is finally here!
This is an exciting four-day event which brings together all kinds of people, with and without disabilities, to showcase different ways that people can break down their mental barriers and achieve more than they thought possible. The event brings together scientists showcasing new technologies, athletes who have achieved the 'impossible,' pioneers who are constantly pushing the limits of expectations, and then some.
Activities include sailing, kayaking, adaptive fishing, swimming with dolphins, hand cycling, snorkeling, climbing, art, canoeing, paddling, tai-chi, adaptive yoga, horseback riding, wheelchair fencing, excursions into the everglades, and so much more!
At the heart of all of this will be Innovation Village, at Shake-a-Leg where new equipment and devices will be available for participants to test as well as many of the experts who created them. Participants can share their feedback and input so that both the makers and users can teach and learn from each other.
There will also be exciting speakers like Aimee Mullins, who at the age of one had both of her legs amputated, but went on to set world records in the 100 & 200 meter dash and the long jump in the Paralympics in Atlanta in 1996. Jesse Billauer, a pro surfer who became a quadriplegic early in his career, but continues to surf and started a non-profit called Life Rolls On, dedicated to increasing awareness about spinal chord related injuries. Also speaking is Kelly Perkins, the first heart transplant recipient to reach the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. There will even be an appearance by Molly the pony!
This past weekend, They Will Surf Again (TWSA), a program underwritten by Life Rolls On Foundation was held at Zuma Beach.
TWSA is an outreach program that works to raise funds and awareness for spinal cord injury research.
According to a TWSA research study:
Over 250,000 individuals are living in the U.S. with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
Individuals with SCI have a lower quality of life and are 5 times more likely to commit suicide than those without.
The folks at Life Rolls On have been doing some incredible things with the TWSA program, giving those who suffer spinal injuries (whether athletes or not) an opportunity to surf.
YouthNoise was well represented at this years’ Life Rolls On Event. Below are some images from the shindig!
Please take the time to visit Life Rolls On Foundation. You'll find the most up-to-date information (research, donation, contact, photos, etc) via the website!
