2008 Newsletters
2008 Real Deal Adventure Race Highlighted on NBC this Saturday
Nov 6th, 2008
The 2008 Real Deal Inclusive Sports Adventure will be highlighted on NBC Sports' Jeep World of Adventure Sports this Saturday, November 8 at 3:00 pm EST.
In June, 2007, Erik organized and participated in the inaugural Real Deal, a rugged adventure race through the Colorado Rockies. The Real Deal Inclusive Sports Adventure is a unique, inclusive team adventure that features teams of 5 participants, two of whom must be participants with disabilities, one of whom must be non-ambulatory. Imagine paraplegics peddling mountain hand cycles with their arms, and blind athletes on the backs of tandem bikes.
"There's a perception that the beautiful open places of the world are just too rugged for disabled folks," said Erik. "The Real Deal blows away that notion."
The event was hosted by World T.E.A.M. Sports, which organizes adventures in which able-bodied and disabled athletes work together toward some bold achievement. The course was designed by 7-time World Adventure Race Champion Ian Adamson. Participants included CEO's as members of their company teams, Everest climbers and Paralympians; and disabled groundbreakers such as paraplegic athletes Steve Ackerman, who biked around the world on a hand cycle, and Darol Kubacz, who attempted Kilimanjaro this summer under his own power, using novel pulley systems he has developed for just this purpose. The title sponsor of the 2008 Real Deal was Lumber Liquidators. We thank Lumber Liquidators for supporting this pioneering event.
The Real Deal showcases the power of inclusive teams, demonstrating the power of what is really possible when you include everybody and work together. No other event like this exists in the world.
Real Deal 2008 was an exciting and fiercely competitive event, with ten teams who battled over mountains and water for two days. The race concluded with a down-to-the-wire finish between Team Powerbar and Erik's Lumber Liquidators team.
Be sure to watch Saturday to see the full story and the drama unfold.
Saturday, November 8 at 3:00 pm EST. NBC
Next year's race will be held June 26th-28th, 2009, near Vail, Colorado.
Please contact Chris Carrigg with World T.E.A.M Sports for more information.
e-mail: ccarrigg@worldteamsports.org
Global Explorers Announces 2009 Summer Adventure - Sign Up Now!!!
This past summer, six legally blind and six sighted students joined Erik and the Global Explorers team and did what thousands of people wait a lifetime to experience: rafting the Grand Canyon. The team spent two spectacular and life-changing weeks exploring leadership, science, culture and service.
Here is what participants had to say about the trip:
"I hope to let other people know that they can step outside their comfort zones. This is a little hard for us, of course. But, I hope to inspire other people to just get out there and experience life for what it really is."--Nicole
"I think the important thing is to challenge yourself. Let's say I'm rafting down the Colorado River; then finding missing socks or whatever isn't going to be that big of a challenge. This minimizes other stuff in day-to-day life." -- Jamie Ann
"When the team has to come together, to problem solve and to push through some adversity, They emerge stronger and better as people." --Erik
Global Explorers is currently accepting applications for blind, visually impaired and sighted high school and college students to participate in next summer's adventures. For more information or to request an application:
E-mail:leadingtheway@globalexplorers.org
or visit: www.globalexplorers.org
Application Deadline: December 1st, 2008
Large print and Braille materials available upon request.
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