We had a great day at the State Fair yesterday!!! Although we lost to the Sitrin STARS we couldn't have had more fun... We'll beat 'em next year for sure.

We had a great day at Camp Hollis today! Our campers and volunteers enjoyed awesome activities including kick ball, swimming, making s'mores, and looking for clues during the scavenger hunt... Thank you to all of the campers and there families, volunteers, donators and Camp Hollis as we could have pulled it off without everyones support!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support and volunteer at the Sled Hockey Exhibition we hosted in partnership with the Erik Cole “Dream Big Foundation” . And a special thanks to the Eric Cole "Dream Big Foundation" for inviting us to co-host such a great event. We are looking forward to next years event!

Check out this great footage!! The event made news channel 10 and the post-standard
http://videos.syracuse.com/post-standard/2009/08/usa_paralympic_sled_hockey_tea.html

http://news10now.com/?ArID=478793&RegionCookie=1013

Check out Brittany Kaye in the news:
http://photos.syracuse.com/post-standard/2009/08/photos_of_the_day_august_3_200_7.html

Erik Cole "Dream Big Foundation" In Partnership with "Move Along Inc. Presents: 2009-10 USA National Sled Team vs. Oswego State Lakers Sunday, August 2, 2009 Game Time 1:00 PM Followed by the Dream Big 3 on 3 Youth Hockey Classic Championship Game Suggested Donation: $5.00 per person $10.00 Family Campus Center Ice Arena, SUNY Oswego

Harborfest was a huge success for Move Along Inc. Thanks to everyone who helped out, we couldn't have done it without such an awesome team. We had a great turn out at our tent and we did an awesome job raising awareness about our group and our goals... We all really came together this weekend and everyone did a phenomenal job... With such a great team backing Move Along Inc. up the sky is the limit!!

We want to thank everyone in the community who came out to support us at Harborfest. We hope to see you at all of our future events!! Congratulations to the raffle winners!

The giveaway raffle winners are as follows:
Bames Liquor - $25 gift card - Doug Houser
Stability Fitness - $50 – 1 month membership - Maggie Abare
Cheap Seats - $20 gift card - Terri Burns
Arise Riding Lesson – 2 lessons - Brady Shannon
C&B Farm and Garden - $40 gift card - Greg Elkins
Cherry Valley Raceway - $50 gift card - Dave Lacey
Ann Comerford Purse - $50 value - Regina Smith
Handcrafted Stone Necklace - $120 - Kara Briglin

We're looking for volunteers to staff our Harborfest tent next weekend, Fri July 24th and Sat July 15th from 10am-8pm . We'll be selling raffle tickets, handing out information, handing out balloons and face painting... If you're interested please let us know when you are available so that we can make sure we're staffed appropriately. Also let us know if you'd be interested in working the booth or face painting.

Hey everyone, Move Along Inc was in the Post Standard today, make sure you check out the video they made at practice last week!! :) http://videos.syracuse.com/post-standard/2009/07/greg_callen_founder_of_move_al.html

MOVE ALONG INC. is thankful for all of our fans who purchase food at Canale's on Tuesday! We greatly appreciate your support! Your generosity will help fund programs which benefit children and adults with physical disabilities!

Don't forget to Support Wheelchair Sports by eating at Canale's in Liverpool and/or Oswego, Today, July 14th!!!

20% of your purchase will be donated to Move Along Inc., don't forget the coupon!!! Eat great food while supporting a great cause!!!

2009 Boilermaker Kids Run

Today Move Along Inc. members had a great time participating in the Boilermaker Kids Run. Kids and adults alike were smiling ear to ear with the warm response we received. After attending the race we headed off to the Utica Children's Museum where we enjoyed a magic show and explored all afternoon. To top it all off we enjoyed a delicious spaghetti dinner prepared by the Boilermaker wheelchair division volunteers... Tomorrow Tammy will be representing Move Along Inc. in the 15k Boilermaker wheelchair division!!! Go Tammy!!! If you're attending the Boilermaker be sure to cheer her on as she passes the finish line!!

Upstate Medical

Please review the attached document to see the great impact Upstate Medical, SUNY Cortland, and Move Along Inc. are having on the lives of children!!!

http://www.upstate.edu/publicaffairs/outlook/outlook_sum09.pdf

Race for A Cure - Susan Komen

Saturday a group of individuals supporting Move Along Inc and growth in athletics participated in the childrens and adult divisions of the Komen - Race for a Cure!! It was amazing, the runners were so supportive and the emotions felt throughout the day of the event were uplifting.
It would be great to start a chair racing program for Move Along Inc. in the future with the help of some existing racers!!

Thank you for a great day everyone. We will post some pictures later!!

Tuesday Night Basketball

It was another great night of exercise at the tuesday night rec league for the Flyers. Although the number of attendees was not great, the level of play was heightened!! We are looking for more players, and to kick off clinics in the next month or two at SU. Move Along has not solidified space there just yet, but we are hoping to commence a great affiliation with the Rec Services Department, and Joe Lore, on campus after a meeting in the next few weeks.
This progress will surely be posted.
Thank you for all the support.....and stop being non active and come out and try wheelchair basketball some night!!!

http://www.movealonginc.com/

http://www.movealonginc.com/

Video About Move Along Mission

Thanks to great team leaders such as Karen Kaye, Move Along Inc. will adapt and succeed in our mission to allow individuals to compete in adaptive sports programs! Please take the time to watch this video:

http://i435.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid435.photobucket.com/albums/qq72/mommiekaren/movealongfinal_0002.flv

Utica Wheelchair Basketball Event / Shoot for the Stars Wheelchair Basketball Event in Oswego June 5th!!!

http://www.wktv.com/news/local/44103212.html?video=YHI&t=a

Above is a link to watch the video covered by the local Utica News from the Sitrin Stars Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball Event!! Don't cut it short, Matt Hammill, of the UFC gets into it with Jimmy Jam at the end!!

It was a great night of fundraising for the local sports programs in Utica.

Please do not forget to support the Move Along Inc on Jue 5th at Leighton Elementary School to support the growth of sports programs, youth clinics, and activity days for those with physical disabilities!! Look for the kickoff brochures and pre-sale tickets in the next week!!!

Wheelchair Basketball

Each week a group of abled and disabled athletes gather at Dr. Weeks Elementary School in the city of Syracuse to play wheelchair basketball. It is a great form of aerobic exercise and a fun social atmosphere! Don't get me wrong, it can get heated from the competition! And if there was a bar of soap, it would be in my mouth most of the time due to my intensity and lack of inner monologue.
I am hoping to get someone to come out and shoot a short video of us playing soon, so we can place it on youtube for others to view and peek their interest in playing!!!
If you ever want to try it out, feel free to contact me @ movealonginc@yahoo.com!!

March of Dimes Walk

Yesterday turned out to be a beautiful day for the March for Babies walk at Long Branch Park in Syracuse! The Spina Bifida / Move Along team had about 60 - 70 participants. It was a great day for networking, spreading the word about a wonderful cause, and spending time with family and friends.
I must say I was exhuasted today from rolling the course with an extra 60 lbs or so, as my nephew Matthew felt I was better transportation than his bike! It was well worth the exhaustion.
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to come out and support the March of Dimes and all the organizations who took part.
Kim, Mary, Judy, and Nienke helped prepare all of the participants with a great banner photo of our group, stickers and T-shirts!
Let's stay determined in our vision!

Overwhelming Numbers of Paralyzed Americans

Please read this article when you have time.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090421/us_nm/us_spinal_injuries

Thank you for your ongoing support!!!

March Of Dimes (March For Babies)

If anyone has an interest in helping show the strength and vision of Move Along Inc. I would love to have you as part of the team I am forming with Upstate Spina Bifida Group for the March of Dimes walk to be held at Onondaga Lake Parkway on April 26th @ 9AM.
If you can donate $10 towards the team contribution (as a family, or individual) and come out and take a stroll through the park for a few hours with all of our team members it would be so greatly appreciated!
Contact me by email to get details for meeting and making another day for children in the Syracuse community special!!
callen_g@yahoo.com

Thank you!!! Don't leave it up to the next person.....everyone is needed to make a difference, and of course welcome to join!!!

Childrens Activities Night @ Institute for Human Performance

For the past 6 months members of the Syracuse Flyers have volunteered (it is so fun, I don't consider it volunteering...) their time at a childrens activities (adaptive sports) night which was established throught the combined efforts of Dr. Nienke Dosa and her staff (Upstate Medical), as well as, Dr. Tim Davis of Cortland State and his staff, and students.
Last night was the last in a series of a six month session. Although I know that these evenings allow the children the resources they need to build friendships, smile, and play; it has done an immense amount for me in strenghtening my passion to make sure there are resources in the CNY area in the future for programs such as this and others on a more consistent and available basis.
I had the opportunity last evening to speak with many parents about the vision of Move Along Inc., and the desire to build resources in athletic programs, as well as, arts programs in the future. There is both an overwhelming need, and a great attitude of support!!
I am developing a Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn site to post pictures of this event and many others to ensure others can view the joy these children obtain when having resources available to them. Please be sure to take the time to view these pages in the future....I will post the sites in less than a week!!
Once again, thanks to Dr. Dosa, and Dr. Davis and their team members for getting something truly remarkable started!!

Upstate Medical and Move Along Inc.

Dialogue has been ongoing to combine efforts with Upstate Medical Center, Cortland State, and Move Along Inc. to set a date for a brainstorming meeting to discuss growth of clinics and programs in athletics for indivduals with disabilities.
A date has been set to discuss the ideas of a core group of participants on May 11th with the presence of Dr.David Smith, the President of Upstate Medical Center.
I will be presenting on the impact and influence of fundraising in the community and building an identity through corporate networking.
Stay tuned for an exciting update following that meeting!!!

Syracuse Flyers And Move Along Inc.

Since 1979 there has been a recreational basketball program established at Dr. Weeks Elementary School in Syracuse, NY. At times the membership numbers were large in volume, and at times it fell into dormancy. The board of directors for the Syracuse Flyers have made the decision to move forward legally with a merger with Move Along Inc. Both organizations will be guided through this legal process of restructuring.
A large amount of emotion is involved in this transition for the Syracuse Flyers and Move Along. There is immense anticipation for growth of the basketball program that has been a staple for many years, into an ongoing recreational night on Tuesday evenings, as well as the possiblity of development of an all inclusive (abled and disabled bodied) competitive league, and youth clinics to nurture the future athletes of adaptive sports!
With this merger Move Along will continue on its mission to establish a number of programs to enable disabled athletes to learn and compete in athletics!!
Thank you to all of our supporters!

Today's Action Items

Today I am working on moving forward with the following items to make Move Along flourish with success!!

1. Establishment of insurance policy to enable the organization to participate in athletic events at multiple venues.

2. Continutation of documentation to obtain 501c3 status. Spoke with the IRS about current 501c3 of Syracuse Flyers and merger of an active status.

3. Contacted Syracuse University director of Recreation Services to establish a clinical evening or co-ed intramureal league for students and community members to play wheelchair basketball!!

Have a great day everyone!!

VA Hospital Meeting

Today I had a great meeting with Suzanne Hawes, who is the lead rec. therapist at the VA Hospital in Syracuse. Suzanne and I discussed programs that the VA has on a national level, and how those do not have a direct enough impact on the individuals they serve locally. I presented the mission and vision of Move Along and how I feel it can grow into a great variety of both athletic and artistic resources for veterans to reintegrate themselves back into society after being discharged from both duty and medical recovery.
We also discussed the future opportunity to educate the medical community on the needs of those individuals effected by trauma, both physical and mental, and how it is a sensitive issue that is not given enough attention. I offered to provide educational in services in the future and plan on adding that as a program of Move Along.
The meeting was truly exciting and another great network for Move Along Inc. to look forward to building upon.

Step One Creative Meeting for Move Along Logo

I had a great meeting today with Mark Proud, Jeff Wallace and Sean Callen regarding the development of a logo and brand identity for the Move Along Foundation. I will post the logo this evening for viewing.

This is such an exciting process and so many individuals are going to benefit in the future!!!