April 19th Potbelly Deli Junior Guild Night benefitting Lifestriders Therapeutic Riding Center.  

17800 W. Bluemound Rd A-1
Brookfield, WI 53045
(Between Calhoun & Brookfield Rd.) 

Potbelly Deli has named the Elm Grove Junior Guild as its recipient to receive 25% of gross evening sales on THURSDAY, APRIL 19th after 5 p.m. In turn, the Junior Guild has chosen to donate all proceeds from this one night fundraiser to Lifestriders Therapeutic Riding Center. Lifestriders was our fifth place vote recipient in this year's grant process. They provide equine-assisted therapy to children and veterans with special needs and their results are tremendous.

Please mark April 19th on your calendar to have dinner at Potbelly Deli and encourage everyone you know to come too! The more people we can pack into Potbelly Deli, the more money we can give back to Lifestriders. The Guild will receive 25% of proceeds after 5 p.m. Thank You Potbelly Deli for this wonderful gesture, Carrie Toth for surfacing this opportunity, and Tara Coakley for helping coordinate the evening. 

Look for the new LifeStriders billboard on I-94 soon!  This billboard has a changeable top flap that will allow for various messages to be displayed throughout the year.  In coordination with National Autism Awareness Month, and in recognition of the incredible results that our program continues to produce with people on the autism spectrum, we are working to launch the sign in the week to come.  Look for it driving westbound from Milwaukee Area as you get into Waukesha and Pewaukee.

Striding for LifeStriders
A Unique 5k Trail Run in conjunction with the Million Mile March 

LifeStriders is a non-profit organization providing life-enhancing, physical and psychological experiences for individuals with special needs - from children with autism to veterans with PTSD. Through equine-assisted therapy, children and adults experience a variety of physical and mental benefits.
 
Let's run so those with special needs can ride!
 
Striding for LifeStriders is an event quite unlike anything else you’ve ever experienced! This 5k trail run incorporates an awesome venue, a challenging course and a variety of waves – competitive, fun-filled, singles, couples, age-groupers, families and four-legged friends. 

SCROLL DOWN FOR NEW EVENT DETAILS

 When:    Sunday March 25th 2012
Where:   LifeStriders – S11 W29667 Summit Avenue (HWY 18) Waukesha, WI 5318
Cost:       $25.00 (Individual)
               $50.00 (Couples/Families)
After:     Awards, Beer, Soda, Food, Music 

 First aid, water and Gatorade provided. USTA Certified Race Director will oversee event to ensure professionally managed and safe environment for all. Dogs must be leashed at all times. Special entertainment, information and education opportunities will be onsite. Register here: http://www.active.com/running/waukesha-wi/striding-for-lifestriders-2012

New Event Details

Greetings,

Thank you so very much for being a part of the magic of the inaugural “Striding for LifeStriders” 5k Trail run/walk. This effort is 100% volunteer supported and 100% of the registration fees are donated directly to LifeStriders to help them continue to provide such important therapy to those with special needs.

We are hoping that Sunday is one of the most memorable, fun-filled and inspirational days of the year for you. (Or maybe just one of your better March days.) Here’s what to expect:

Due to space limitations, there will be no parking on the LifeStriders grounds. Due to safety considerations, there will be no parking on the shoulder of HWY 18. Dilemma? Think again!

Thanks to the Kettle Moraine School District, parking is available just west of LifeStriders on HWY 18 at Brandybrook Community Center. Complimentary roundtrip shuttle service will be provided by Waukesha Limousine Service.  Simply park your car and get ready for the rock-star treatment you deserve as a custom limo transports you to the starting line! Talk about styling!

Once you arrive on the LifeStriders’ grounds, you will be greeted by some of the friendliest and most helpful people ever. Our smiling team of volunteers will all be on hand to ensure you’re registered, that you start in the right direction and don’t get lost in the woods along the way. Secure gear-check will be provided.  There is no packet to pick up. If you’ve pre-registered, simply check-in and get ready to rock a great run. The event is not timed, so please remember to bring along your own PTD (personal timing device) and self-report your finish stats. A professional photographer will be onsite and photos will be available on a complimentary basis. Wow, that’s cool!

The staging area will be inside the barn in the arena where LifeStriders’ clients ride. There will be information tables, special activities, a rocking PA system and live music from the Red 22 Band. Be sure to grab a picture with the Klement’s Racing Sausages. And get your boogie on!

The opening ceremonies should be special, indeed. LifeStriders has made arrangements for a special heroes’ wave and is providing complimentary registration for police, firefighters and active and retired members of the armed forces in appreciation for all they do to protect and serve. Prior to the heroes’ wave, Lt. Daniel Baumann and the City of Waukesha Police Honor Guard will present the colors and LifeStriders volunteer Connie Gehl will have a special rendition of our National Anthem. Nationally famous announcer Dave Kappas will be the event’s emcee. Opening ceremonies start at 0930 (that’s 9:30 AM for us non-military folks.)

Registration will be available the day of the event. Please be patient and understanding if waves are adjusted to balance the entries.

The course will start in the barn and consist of two loops. The route is off road on paths, so be cautious with your footing.  (For those of you who drop out after only one loop, I promise that is okay and I won’t tell anyone…) The weather promises to cooperate, but please dress accordingly. The event will go on rain or shine, except under threatening conditions in accordance with established race/weather protocol. Those of you who are accompanied by your four-legged friends, please remember to keep your pet leashed at all times and pick up after any doggie do. (Those caught violating this policy will be assigned to help clean the horse stalls J as a gentle reminder to be courteous to others.)

After the run, there will be a complimentary, fermented malted beverage for those of age, good times, fun and some vittles to refuel including delicious Klement’s brats and hot dogs and FRESHLY BAKED cookies (aka “horse pies.”)

We’ve tried to make this an awesome experience for everyone. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with suggestions or questions. Also, please feel free to forward this email to your family, friends and co-workers and invite them to share in the goodness – even though they weren’t forward-thinking and cool enough to be a front-runner like you! (But do encourage them to pre-register tomorrow or Friday.)

Thank you again for your support of LifeStriders. And a special thank you to our way-cool sponsors - InStep Physical Therapy and Running Centers, be fitness and wellness Center, Waukesha Limousine Service and Klement’s Sausage.

See you Sunday!

Robin


***

The excitement continues to build for Sunday’s event.

And here’s a little peak into your virtual goodie bag. be fitness and wellness center in Delafield is offering a complimentary (as in free) two week membership for all “Striding for LifeStriders” participants and volunteers! Could it get any better? Check out be fitness and wellness center here: http://www.befitnesscenter.com/ . To activate your membership, use the special code “LifeStriders” when you visit or check-in. This special offer is good for any consecutive two week period from April 1, 2012 to July1, 2012. Hey, it’s great to have perks!

A couple of people have emailed me with questions regarding what time they should arrive on Sunday. The opening ceremonies will begin at 9:30 AM. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT FOR THE OPENING CEREMONIES. (But they will be special!) Please do make sure you allow sufficient time to park, check-in, check your gear and get ready for a fun-filled event. Remember, parking is at Brandybrook Community Center just west of LifeStriders and complimentary round-trip shuttle will be provided by Waukesha Limousine. (Yep, that’s right! Rock Star treatment for you in a tricked out, shiny black stretch limo!)

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday,
Robin

The 2012 Volunteer Orientation and Training, scheduled for January 26th and 28th is quickly approaching! 

New Volunteers must attend one Orientation/Training session scheduled on Thursday, January 26th from 4pm - 6pm or Saturday, January 28th from 10am until noon, at S11 W29495 Summit Ave, Waukesha. If you have volunteered with us before, we still encourage you to attend one of these sessions to re-familiarize yourself with LifeStriders' procedures. 

Please RSVP Lori at lori@lifestriders.org or Nicole at loveleycole1@lifestriders.org and let us know which day you'd like to attend. 

Thank you all, for all you do!

Thank you Sara Eagleboy for putting this together.  More information on Project for Awsome here:   http://projectforawesome.com/

Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party gives us the chance to thank the volunteers for everything that they do for us, all year.  

Congratulations goes out to Rachel Busalacchi,
Andrew Wegner,  Angela Audley, David Grovic-Ravenzahn, Emily Lamm, Hannah Wegner, Jessie Lustig, Kathleen End, Luis Lizardi, Madi Gehl, Matthew Reilly, McKinley Brewer, Olga Grovic, and Rebecca Neidinger on achieving the bronze Presidential Service award, to Natalie Lirette and Nicole Neidinger for achieving the silver Presidential Service award, and to Ruthie Barbour for receiving the gold Presidential Service award.  After the award ceremony the crowd was treated to the music of Alyssia Dominguez, complimentary line dance lessons, and fun photos in the photo booth.  A special thank you goes out to the Langreder family for donating the funding for food for the event.  And, thank you to ALL of our volunteers for all that you do!

MATTHEW AND KATIE'S STORY
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis were not in our vocabulary. They are now.

My husband, John, and I have four children, two of whom participate at LifeStriders. Each week we are amazed at their progress, in particular, our four year old son, Matthew, who has Tuberous Sclerosis. 

When Matthew was eight months old he began having infantile spasms which are devastating to the brain. Matthew behaved like a healthy baby but once he began having these seizures he was literally taken away from us. He was completely non reactive to his environment. 

Slowly Matthew started coming back to life but he still wasn’t the same. He has significant delays particularly in his speech and language. I had never heard of therapeutic riding but Matthew’s OT insisted he would be a great candidate. 

We decided to have both Katie, my six year old daughter, and Matthew participate. Katie, after having three open heart surgeries, has poor core strength and is generally low tone. Matthew, as mentioned, has global delays.

After a few weeks of riding we noticed significant changes in Matthew. He was now quick to respond to comments and questions no longer requiring a lot of time to process information. He also began speaking in sentences and with greater detail. 

We began to see a different Matthew. We now have a spunky little boy with a terrific sense of humor who is a bit mischievous at times and has an incredible memory. 

LifeStriders has been a gift to us. We have all learned about riding and its benefits. Katie and Matthew love to ride and they talk about their horses. We have met the most wonderful volunteers who are knowledgeable and kind, and even know when to give tenacious Katie a little sass. 

Our family has a new word to add to our vocabulary - LifeStriders. We cannot adequately express our gratitude for everything LifeStriders has given us. Katie is stronger and Matthew is back. They gave me my little baby back. I have my little boy. Thank you.

- Michelle McCardle - Matthew's and Katie's Mother 

RYAN'S STORY
I had only one goal that first day. I wanted Ryan to get close to a horse. Not touch or ride but just close enough without screaming in fear. My son Ryan was born 3 ½ months early with Cerebral Palsy to his left side of his body. He was 2- 1/2 years old and our Physical Therapist recommended we try therapeutic horse riding to strengthen his torso and possibly help him start to walk. Ryan seemed scarred of everything at that age. Noises, parking lots, dogs, and trucks seemed to panic him. I doubted he would even get near a big horse much less get on it and ride. 

I held him in my arms and approached the line of horses that Veronica was assigning to riders. Ryan started to panic and point in the other direction. Veronica said ”hand him to me and go inside the barn”. I looked around behind me and said “who me?” Ryan is going to freak without me. I handed him to her and as I walked away, she put him on that horse and he rode away without crying and without a scream. I stood inside the barn, looking out a small glass window as Ryan rode around. I had a knot in my throat. I was afraid he would see me and I would ruin it. I stood there the whole hour just amazed. 

If you have a child with a disability, you know how I felt that day. I am so impressed with the professionalism of everyone at Lifestriders. It is such a warm, loving environment. Ryan has ridden for 3-1/2 years. He has his favorite horses and so many friends. He always looks forward to riding. It not only helped Ryan walk but gave him confidence that he “can do it.”

I can’t thank you enough LifeStriders.

- Ryan's Dad