Walkin’ the Walk, Rollin’ the Roll, and Talkin’ the Talk!

So this month I continued my walk/roll spirit and signed up to participate in the NStar Walk for Children’s Hospital which took place at the DCR Hatch Shell in Boston. It was a little difficult to find a partner because this is the time when so many other walks are happening and many people had signed up for other walks, which was great as well—so I decided to do the walk and represent Ms.Wheelchair Massachusetts myself and show my support to Children’s Hospital. It was nice though that my dad decided to join me in time for the actual walk.
There were two in-person distance options- 2 miles or 7 miles and a virtual option for anyone who could not be at the actual event. So I decided to do the 2-mile option, mainly because I wasn’t sure my chair would support a 7 mile walk. So our start time was 12pm from the Hatch Shell, as opposed to the 7-mile walkers who started at 11am. For the event, it was required to fundraise a minimum of $150.00 to participate, which I ended up making it. I decided to spread the word on Facebook on my page as well as the Ms.Wheelchair Massachusetts page, and Ms.Wheelchair America 2011 page to get the word out quickly. And quickly the word spread, as I made $55 in less than 24 hours time since I posted the link to my page! The money started rollin’ in! It was quite a bit of money and I wanted to see how much I could raise before I asked my dad for any money. He was very supportive of the cause because they really have done a lot for me and my family over the years, and we are grateful for all of it!
On the day of the Walk, I decided to go to the Cambridge Galleria which was the closest location with an address that the Ride would drop off, so it made sense to meet there and take their shuttle bus, which was free. The weather report for that day was not the best for a walk, as it was supposed to thunderstorm, but it was a rain or shine deal with the NStar Walk…so I was there to support my Hospital and participate! As it was, the rain held off. We were asked to be there 30-45 minutes early to register, get our shirts and bibs and enjoy the pre-walk activities. Everyone there was really nice and it was great to see so many people out there supporting Children’s Hospital Boston! I even got to see a former doctor of mine who took care of me when I was inpatient a few years back. Overall it was a very enjoyable day and I’m glad I got to be a part of it and help them help the thousands of children who come to the hospital every year.
I came across a man who was taking pictures for the Boston Herald, so I may end up making a debut in the paper! Also, I found it cool that I was not the only person with a crown and sash, as there was a whole team full of ladies with crowns and sashes. Also another person with a crown wanted to take her picture with me which was really sweet. I also got some good pictures at different landmarks on the route. The entertainment was awesome as there was a band and a couple of doctors who dressed up as clowns and some characters who posed with the kids who were there. It was of course great to see so many other kids in wheelchairs there for it.
The journey home was a little on the adventurous side as we had decided to venture off to a nearby Au Bon Pain…and ventured away from the shuttle buses that brought us to the Hatch Shell. So we had no way back to Cambridge where the Ride was going to pick me up. Luckily we were near the Red Line MGH Station and so we were able to take the train home, and my dad ventured back for the car…oops! Oh well…all’s well that ends well? 
It was important for me to be able to do this walk. I’ve grown up going to that Hospital and they have done so much for me and still continue to do so, as well as for thousands of other children each and every day, year after year. This was my way of finally being able to give back to all of the amazing people at a wonderful healthcare facility, as well as meet other families who also look up to Children’s Hospital Boston and their staff. I know I would not be doing as well as I am today had it not been for the doctors, nurses and everyone I’ve met at Children’s Hospital Boston. I was very proud to wear my MWMA 2010 crown and sash and come out and support everyone who was involved with this amazing event.
So this ends another wonderful month of Ms.Wheelchair Massachusetts 2010 events. Next month I am looking forward to another big event, the 20th Anniversary of the ADA Celebration which will be held on Boston Common on July 26th, 2010 from 12-3pm. Can’t wait! Hope to see everyone there! (55 days until Nationals! Who’s excited?! Who’s ready? )

Run in the Falmouth Road Race to Support Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation

You Can Help To Support the Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation by Running in the Falmouth Road Race

 Sunday, August 15, 2010
 Race begins at 10 a.m.
 Course is 7 miles in distance
 Begins in Woods Hole, Cape Cod
 Runs along the coast to Falmouth
 Runners receive free t-shirt

You can run in this lottery-entry only race
to raise money for Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts!
Runners Needed

Each runner must commit to raising $400 for our non-profit program.

Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts is a 501 c3 non-profit organization
The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Program gives women with physical disabilities
a forum to promote the achievements as well as the needs of mobility impaired persons.

Unlike traditional pageants, the Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Program is in no way a beauty contest. It is instead a competition to select the most accomplished and articulate spokesperson for women with disabilities in Massachusetts.

Requests to run MUST BE RECEIVED BY JULY 2, 2010

For more information or to apply, contact Autumn Grant at 774-501-1185 or email: mswheelchairmass06@yahoo.com. Please stop by our website at www.mswheelchairmass.org for more information on our organization.

I Wanna Walk n Roll All Day!

This month I got to attend one of the biggest events of my reign- the Spina Bifida Association of Massachusetts’s 1st Annual Walk n Roll on May 23, 2010, which was held at Endicott Estates in Dedham which is a really beautiful property. The weather was somewhat gloomy in the morning but in the afternoon the sun came out and it was gorgeous! It served as a great fundraising and awareness event.
Although the kick-off party in March was a small gathering, there were definitely many more people at the actual event. Ellen Heffernan-Dugan was in charge of organizing it, among many others in the Association as well and they all did such a great job. There were over 100 walkers/rollers spread out over 15+ teams, which was really great to see, not to mention that we fundraised over $28,000 through this amazing event which will no doubt be put to good use for future programs and services for people living with Spina Bifida in Massachusetts.
There was a DJ and the kids got to play games like limbo and musical chairs which was fun for them. I didn’t end up making a team after all, but instead I just went to cheer everyone on and meet the families and others with Spina Bifida. I did get to address the crowd at the beginning along with the Association’s President Cara Packard and Ellen Heffernan-Dugan who is the Executive Director of the SBA Mass, telling my life story and getting everyone fired up to have a great walk which was incredible!
While thinking about what I was going to say, I got to reflect on all my accomplishments and challenges over the years that I don’t think about on a daily basis which was really cool because I realized I have accomplished more than I feel like I have most days. I also wrote a story about my life and Ms.Wheelchair Massachusetts in their press release, and was told that I would be appearing in the Dedham News Transcript the next day, which was really exciting again being able to share my story. Also I got to get my picture taken with some of the teams and families and meet them. They were all impressed by my speech and my story and how far I have come.
I’m really happy to be so involved with the SBAMass, not only because I have Spina Bifida but because of the difference that I’m making for people with SB, and expanding my leadership skills while meeting some really great people in the process. I realize now that I’m not as alone as I think I am most days and that there are people out there who understand what life with a disability is really like.
Being Ms.Wheelchair Massachusetts 2010 has really given me the opportunity to get involved with and help out so many different people; I’m really enjoying every minute of it and really looking forward to meeting everyone at Nationals! :) (74 days left!)

Santara

April Update

Hi Everyone, Santara here with another update. April was a pretty laid back month. I did participate in one event along with Autumn called LAUNCH which was held at Bristol Community College in Attleboro, MA. At this event, we had a table to showcase Ms.Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation with the pamphlets and business cards etc. There were also different workshops to attend all about promoting STEM Literacy and incorporating it into other fields like Early Childhood Education for example. I got to attend two different workshops to learn more about it. The first one was called “STEM Literacy & the Education Model”. It was run by a woman named Joan Ricci, who is the Director of The Literacy Center and also an Early Childhood educator. She talked about the effects of the STEM model between birth to age 5, which was really important to me because I too want to be an Early Childhood teacher. At first she asked us all general questions like: Who has read to a child before? Who has bought a book as a gift for a child/mother? And then she spoke about how those early moments in a child’s life are so crucial to children’s success and the likelihood that they will pursue careers in mathematics or engineering because of our efforts.
The other workshop that I attended was called “Like Herding Fish-Managing the Startup Process” and this one was all about effective business management and leadership. The two people running the workshop talked about all the different tools a person needs to start your own business, the importance of finding the right people to help you succeed in your business, making tough decisions-like when you should hire or fire a person and not worrying so much about other people’s feelings and what others think, but instead doing what is right for your company.
Well, that’s pretty much it for this month. Next month I am looking forward to two great events: a forum for the candidates for Governor at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown on May 18th and Spina Bifida Association’s First Annual Walk n Roll on May 23rd at Endicott Estates in Dedham. There is still time to sign up for the Walk n Roll if you want to sign up as a team or individual walker. It is going to be a great event both for fundraising and raising awareness of Spina Bifida and other disability issues. If you are interested in building a team or being an individual walker, please go to walknrollsbamass.org to sign up. Also if anyone wants to build a team with me feel free to let me know. If you cannot make it out to Dedham that day for the event but would still like to participate, there is an option to sign up as a virtual walker as well.
Thanks!
Santara

Forum with the Candidates for Governor

Perkins School for the Blind and the Disability Policy Consortium, in Collaboration with many Disability Organizations invite YOU to Attend

Forum with the Candidates for Governor

May 18, 2010
12:30 – 3:30
Perkins School for the Blind
Dwight Hall, Howe Building
175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472

Treasurer Tim Cahill
Governor Deval Patrick
Grace Ross
Jill Stein

Moderator: Bob Oakes of WBUR-FM’s “Morning Edition”

Join your colleagues and friends to hear the candidates for Governor discuss disability policy issues. Bring a friend!

For more information, please contact DPC at 617-542-3522 or info@dpcma.org. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact DPC before May 12th.

President’s Volunteer Service Award

For Immediate Release
The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation Joins With the Council on Service and Civic Participation to Deliver President’s Volunteer Service Award
Prestigious Award Honors Outstanding Commitment to Volunteer Service

Raynham, MA – The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation today announced it has teamed with the White House to become a Certifying Organization for the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, a national program recognizing Americans who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service. Established in 2003, the AWARD was created by President George W. Bush to give Presidential recognition to individuals, families and groups who meet requirements for volunteer service, measured by the number of service hours performed over 12-months.

The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation is one of thousands of organizations that have joined forces to deliver the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD and honor the volunteers who strengthen our Nation. As a Certifying Organization for the AWARD, The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation is responsible for verifying service hours, nominating potential recipients and delivering the AWARD.

“The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation is extremely proud to recognize our most outstanding volunteers with the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD,” said Autumn Grant State Coordinator. “The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation volunteers are “roll” models in our community, donating their time, energy and talent to bring us closer together as neighbors and a Nation. The AWARD is our way of thanking these volunteers and inspiring everyone in our community to make volunteering a central part of their lives.”

The AWARD is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, a group convened by President George W. Bush to help foster and encourage a culture of volunteer service and civic participation among Americans. Chaired by two-time Super Bowl Champion Darrell Green, with former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glenn as honorary co-chairs, the Council is composed of leaders in government, media, entertainment, business, education, nonprofit and volunteer service organizations and community volunteering.

For more information about volunteering with The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation, Contact Autumn Grant at mswheelchairmass06@yahoo.com or got to www.mswheelchairmass.org. For more information on the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD and to find out how to identify additional volunteer opportunities in this area, visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov or call 1-866-545-5307.


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