Friends,
Breakaway 2020 is on the horizon, and I wanted to let you know so that you can save the date. I would be most pleased if you would be able to join me at the event on February 4th, 2020 at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park in New York City. The event will take place from 6pm to 9pm.
If you are so desirous, you can donate and/or buy admission tickets to the event here. I would be grateful and humbled for any support that you are able to give.
We are continuing to change perceptions and ideas about what people with physical disabilities are able to do. And when sled ranger athletes walk or wheel into their classrooms, and they tell their able-bodied friends that they are hockey players, it changes how their friends see them, how their parents see them, and how they see themselves. We are increasing self-esteem, self-confidence, and independence. And today, more than 60 Sled Ranger athletes have experienced the accomplishments, disappointments, and growth of character that comes with being on a team.
The 2019-2020 season is our 8th season and from a hockey perspective, we are finally starting to show some hockey skills. We participated in 4 tournaments last season – Pittsburgh, Tampa, Grand Rapids, and Westfield MA -- and we took 1st place or 2nd place in all of them. Not that winning hockey games in the measure of success, but it’s a lot more fun to win than it is to lose.
We have also been able to do other fun things with the team and to provide opportunities and exposure to other sports and activities. In 2018, we took 18 of our athletes out to Park City Utah for some adaptive skiing, snow tubing, sled hockey, and other sports. For many of our athletes, this was their first time on an airplane or, indeed, outside of NYC.
Our last event, Breakaway 2018, was very well attended with over 400 guests and including Special Guests Adam Graves and Mike Richter. You can see the videos and photos here: http://www.wsfsledrangers.org/breakaway-2018.
My own son, Sam, who was born with a damaged spinal cord and is paralyzed below his waist, is now 16 years old and has been playing sled hockey for 10 years. Still the most athletic of my three children, Sam especially enjoys being with other kids like himself, and also mentoring the younger and new kids on the team. Indeed, in 2019, Sam was chosen to be the captain of the team, in recognition of his ability to quietly inspire his teammates through his hard work ethic and high skill level, unifying personality, and positive attitude.
Our athletes are aged between 5 and 21, and reside in all five boroughs of NYC, as well as Long Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties, southern Connecticut, and northern New Jersey. The kids and families are from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
We are committed to covering the costs for any athlete who wants to play, regardless of their ability to pay. This event will help us to raise money to pay for sleds and equipment, ice time, coaching and development, transportation, and outreach.
Breakaway 2020 will show case the team skating on the ice as well as provide an opportunity for guests to try skating in a sled as well. There will be, of course, buffet dinner and open bar.
I really hope that you can make it, and see what I'm so excited about.
As always, please feel free to email me with any questions. I look forward to seeing you there.
Very Sincerely,
Bill
Breakaway 2020 is on the horizon, and I wanted to let you know so that you can save the date. I would be most pleased if you would be able to join me at the event on February 4th, 2020 at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park in New York City. The event will take place from 6pm to 9pm.
If you are so desirous, you can donate and/or buy admission tickets to the event here. I would be grateful and humbled for any support that you are able to give.
We are continuing to change perceptions and ideas about what people with physical disabilities are able to do. And when sled ranger athletes walk or wheel into their classrooms, and they tell their able-bodied friends that they are hockey players, it changes how their friends see them, how their parents see them, and how they see themselves. We are increasing self-esteem, self-confidence, and independence. And today, more than 60 Sled Ranger athletes have experienced the accomplishments, disappointments, and growth of character that comes with being on a team.
The 2019-2020 season is our 8th season and from a hockey perspective, we are finally starting to show some hockey skills. We participated in 4 tournaments last season – Pittsburgh, Tampa, Grand Rapids, and Westfield MA -- and we took 1st place or 2nd place in all of them. Not that winning hockey games in the measure of success, but it’s a lot more fun to win than it is to lose.
We have also been able to do other fun things with the team and to provide opportunities and exposure to other sports and activities. In 2018, we took 18 of our athletes out to Park City Utah for some adaptive skiing, snow tubing, sled hockey, and other sports. For many of our athletes, this was their first time on an airplane or, indeed, outside of NYC.
Our last event, Breakaway 2018, was very well attended with over 400 guests and including Special Guests Adam Graves and Mike Richter. You can see the videos and photos here: http://www.wsfsledrangers.org/breakaway-2018.
My own son, Sam, who was born with a damaged spinal cord and is paralyzed below his waist, is now 16 years old and has been playing sled hockey for 10 years. Still the most athletic of my three children, Sam especially enjoys being with other kids like himself, and also mentoring the younger and new kids on the team. Indeed, in 2019, Sam was chosen to be the captain of the team, in recognition of his ability to quietly inspire his teammates through his hard work ethic and high skill level, unifying personality, and positive attitude.
Our athletes are aged between 5 and 21, and reside in all five boroughs of NYC, as well as Long Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties, southern Connecticut, and northern New Jersey. The kids and families are from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
We are committed to covering the costs for any athlete who wants to play, regardless of their ability to pay. This event will help us to raise money to pay for sleds and equipment, ice time, coaching and development, transportation, and outreach.
Breakaway 2020 will show case the team skating on the ice as well as provide an opportunity for guests to try skating in a sled as well. There will be, of course, buffet dinner and open bar.
I really hope that you can make it, and see what I'm so excited about.
As always, please feel free to email me with any questions. I look forward to seeing you there.
Very Sincerely,
Bill
Thank you to our corporate Sponsors of Breakaway 2020
