As posted by: Kevin Hughes 

The Fort Wayne Bandit’s adult wheelchair basketball team won the Mid-American Conference Tourney in Strongsville, OH this past weekend (Oct. 25-26, 2008) as they went 5-0, defeating the Moraine Minutemen 64-55 (overtime) in the championship game. For tournament scores click here

Next tourney: Rock N Roll shootout in Cleveland where they’ll face last season D3 champs Hill on Wheels (Kentucky)

On Saturday, November 8, 2008 the Prep Turnstone Flyers will host their annual ‘Prep for the Future’ tourney to kick off the season with two rival opponents from Michigan: Grand Rapids Pacers and Sterling Heights Challengers. All three teams were nationally ranked last season. 

Key match-up: Challengers vs Flyers at 1:30pm. Last season the Flyers won 2 out of 3 games against the Challengers; however, at Prep Nationals the Challengers had the upper hand and finished 2nd while the Flyers finished 3rd in the Nation.

Also… The 4:30 pm Jr. Pacers vs Flyers is an intreging matchup. The two teams have a long history of playing in close games against each other. Don’t be supprise if the game goes into overtime.

All games will be played at

Turnstone Center for Children and Adults With Disabilities

3320 North Clinton Street - Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Click here for the complete schedule

On Saturday, November 15, 2008 teams from the Hoosier land (Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Kokomo, and Muncie) will be competing in the Turnstone Power Soccer Challenge. 

Key match-up: The Fantastic Flyers vs RHI Storm at 1pm….the Fantastic Flyers defeated the Storm 2-1 at last year nationals in the second round.

Also… the Fearless Flyers vs Ball State Cardinals @ 3pm…  the Fantastic Flyers who finished as D-2 National Champions will have a tough battle against D-1 Ball State Cardinals.

All games will be played at

Turnstone Center for Children and Adults With Disabilities

3320 North Clinton Street - Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Click here for full schedule

Update on Sled Hockey…. Join the building efforts in creating the the first sled hockey team in Indiana.

Next practice is this Monday, November 3rd from 6:45 till 7:45pm. Click here for the complete schedule.

A hand full of the players will be traveling to Northwest Chicagoland December 5 - 7, 2008. For some of the athletes this will be there first tournament experience. 

On Friday, February 13, 2009 members of the Fort Wayne sled hockey group will play @ Memorial Coliseum during intermission of a Komets game.

That same weekend (February 14-15, 2008) McMillan Ice Arena, also know as the MAC, (3901 Abbott Street. Fort Wayne, IN 46806) is hosting ‘The First Annual Bob Chase Frostbite Sled Hockey Championship’. Click here for more info.

Click here to learn more about sled hockey

Sunday, September 21, 2008 has been set as the date for this years Spinal Cord Injury Walk.  Last year more than 180 people attended the walk and it was a huge success. This year should be even better. It is a great way to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries, exercise, and spend time with family and friends. There will be live music, a silent auction, door prizes, food, and a 5k-fitness walk. The proceeds will benefit spinal cord injury research, advocacy groups and the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group.

Volunteers and sponsors are needed for this event also. Please contact nwiscig@gmail for more information.

The Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group is bringing three spinal cord injury documentaries to Northwest Indiana for free showings at 6550 US Highway 6 in Portage, IN 46368.  Donations will be accepted at the door. 

July 20th at 2 pm

Christopher Reeve: Hope in Motion…

This intimate portrait focuses on Chris’s remarkable recovery of movement and his constant fight to fully regain his mobility. Following Chris closely over many months of treatment and public campaigning for funds for stem cell research, this film was completed shortly before his death and shows his struggle to keep his hope alive. Sadly, Chris died before his most fervent wish could come to pass. What emerges through this film is a portrait of an intelligent, determined, candid and outspoken man who was able to maintain his sense of humor in the face of adversity. His inspiring personality will shine through as you follow his unpredictable, emotional journey.

August 3rd at 2 pm 

MAPPING STEM CELL RESEARCH : Terra Incognita

This film puts a human face on this controversial subject. When neurologist Dr. Jack Kessler’s daughter injured her spine in a skiing accident, he turned his energies toward finding a method to repair damaged spinal cords, re-focusing his research on developing a therapy using embryonic stem cells to regenerate the damaged parts of the nervous system. His research has taken him into a politically very sensitive area in which Catholic and fundamentalist Christian views about the beginning of life exert a powerful influence.

August 17th at 2 pm

MURDERBALL… 

Murderball is an intimate and personal look at life in a wheelchair. The story chronicles the journey of the United States Para Olympic Quad Rugby Team from 2002 to 2004 ending in Athens, Greece with a championship game against their rivals from Canada.

This past weekend (June 27-29, 2008) at the 24th Annual TWAA Music City Classic local wheelchair tennis athlete James Ezell defeated Shane Coldwell from Georgia 6-1; 6-2 however in the Quarterfinals (C Singles) James lost to USTA #2 ranked Mark La Rotonda 6-0; 6-0. 

In Men’s C Doubles James and teammate Bruce Fairbanks lost 6-2; 6-1 to Matthew Clements/Scott Cole. 

Upcoming wheelchair tennis: James Ezell, Kevin Hughes, and Noah Yablong (all from Fort Wayne, IN) are all registered to play in the July 11-13, 2008 McCann Memorial Wheelchair open and July 18-20 Midwest Wheelchair Championships. 

As Submitted by Sharon Severy

Posted: June 24, 2008

The Hendricks County Senior Center is offering a free mini health clinic for adults of any age, called Health Matters. The clinic will be held on Friday, from 10 to noon. Screenings will be available for glucose, cholesterol, blood oxygen levels, bone density, heart rate, hearing, and blood pressure. Foot care, vision assessments and anodyne therapy will also be available.

In addition, SHIIP will be available to answer individual questions and give advice on Medicare and insurance issues. Other professionals will provide information on nutrition, living wills, assisted living, retirement clubs, physical therapy, reverse mortgages, hospice, diabetes testing supplies, home care, nursing homes, and long term care insurance. The File of Life, an emergency information notification system, will be available. Bulldog Mobility will provide free mini-tune up service of wheelchairs and scooters.

Health Matters is being sponsored by Lincoln Bank and CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions. Participants include Hendricks Regional Health, Alliance Day Services, Angels of Mercy Home Care, At Your Service Healthcare, Avon Health & Rehab, Bulldog Mobility, Caring Call Connection, Edward Jones, The Hearth at Prestwick, Heartland Healthcare, Ivy Trace, Midwest Mobile Care, MP Total Care, Nightengale Home Care, Odyssey Healthcare, Park Square Manor, Plainfield Health Care Center, Roland Retirement Clubs, SHIIP, Southern Care Hospice, and Superior Home Mortgage. Most services are free and a senior center membership is not required.

A light lunch will be available at noon, as a fundraiser for Senior Services, provided by Northview Christian Church. Cost of the lunch is $3.

The Hendricks County Senior Center is a service of Hendricks County Senior Services and is located at 1201 Sycamore Lane in Danville. For more information or to request a ride, call (317) 745-4303. Senior Services is funded in part by CICOA The Access Network, United Way of Central Indiana, and the generous donations of individuals and community organizations. Service is provided without regard to sex, race, color, religion, disability, or national origin.

June ‘08 ——————————————
4-5 Annual Water Ski Clinic
6-7 Indy Thunder Beep Baseball Tournament
30 RHI & Bradford Woods Water SkiJuly ‘08 ——————————————–
7 Bradford Woods All-Sports Camp
9-10 Water Ski Clinic (Camp WACK)
11 White Water Rafting Trip (Adult)
20 RCA Tennis Championships – Clinic
26 Wheels in Motion Motorcycle Poker Run
30 Journey of Hope: Push America
30-31 Youth Basketball Camp
August ‘08 ————————————–
(TBD) Sky Diving Clinic
23-24 Handcycle Race
30 Rowing Clinic

September ‘08 ——————————-
(TBD)  Horseback Riding
13 Volunteer and Athlete Appreciation Dinner
20 Archery Lessons
23 Golf Fundraiser – The Bridgewater
October ‘08 ————————————
(TBD) Kids Discovery Sports Day
(TBD) Weightlifting

November ‘08 ——————————-
(TBD) Hunting Trip
(TBD) Scuba Diving

OTHER SPORTS EVENTS

-Adult Basketball
Open Gym
Date: Every Wednesday evening
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: Municipal Gardens
- Youth Basketball Team Practice
Practice will resume in the Fall

- Adult Basketball Team Practice
Team practice will resume in the Fall

-Beep Baseball Practice
Date: Every Tuesday & Saturday

- Quad Rugby Practice
Contact - ddeckman@comcast.net
(317) 331-2268
amlohaver@yahoo.com
(317) 796-0537

- Power Soccer Practice
Teams practice in various locations

- Water Ski Team Practice
RHI Sports Water Ski Team practice begins with RHI Sports Water Ski Clinics June 4 and 5, 2008 at Morse Reservoir.  Clinics continue with Advanced Competition Disabled Water Ski Clinic on June 6 in Danville at Hawthorn Lake.
 
Then, every Monday afternoon/evening skiers may get a pull at Fairland Ski Club’s site at intersection of Fairland Rd and I-74.  Exit and go West on Fairland Road, turning south at frontage road on WEST side of I-74.  Lake is on west side of frontage road.
 
Beginning June 5th and every Thursday through September 18th (except July 3) the Indy Parks Ability Water Ski Training Series operates on Lake Indy (White River) with HQ at Municipal Gardens Family Recreation Center, 1841 Lafayette Road.  Skiers may register via Indy Parks activity registration line, 317-327-7275, paying $5 registration fee to Indy Parks.  Skiing starts at 5PM and is limited to the first 16 skiers who register with Indy Parks.
 
Ability Series fees for skiing may vary as gas prices ebb and flow, but skiers should expect to pay $20 for one set, with discount for second set if time allows.  USA Water Ski Guest memberships are available for $5 per session if skier is not active member of USA Water Ski with membership card in hand at dock.
- Racing Team Practice
Various meeting time; contact us for more info

- Youth Track and Field practice
Thursdays

-Golf Practice
Mondays
-Youth Tennis Camp
Saturday morning

-Adult Tennis
Saturday morning
 

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program is pleased to announce that it’s assisting U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, with distribution of applications for the 2008 International Paralympic Academy. Thirty-five student athletes with physical disabilities and 15 coaches and teachers will win a trip to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Sept. 5-11, 2008.

To enter, student athletes (ages 12-18), coaches and teachers must fill out an application, which includes writing a 500-word essay focused on the role that sports has played in their lives, as well as include letters of recommendation. Applications are available at www.usparalympics.org. Deadline to enter is April 1, 2008.

Patrick Dean, the Coordinator of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program says, “The Paralympic Academy is a life changing experience for the young people of RHI Sports.  Giving youth with physical disabilities the opportunity to experience international travel in an environment that focuses on a person’s ability rather than their disability is exactly what our kid’s need.”   Find out more at rhin.com

• September 15, 2007 - Kids with Disabilities Discovery Sports Day
• September 29, 2007 - Girl Power Day for girls with and without disabilities

Call Pat Dean at 317/329-2281 for more information!