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Welcome Brandon!

By Jill Gorman on October 6, 2021

Q & A with BORP’s New Athletic Director: Brandon Young

Photo of Brandon Young with his daughter — Photo of Brandon Young, BORP’s Athletic Director with his daughter

Q: Where did you grow up? A: I grew up in Philadelphia Pa. That is where my passion for sports started. I started playing sports as a young kid; when I was 11, I found the sport of goalball and that became my true passion. It led me to travel all around the country and eventually representing the USA at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics in goalball.

Q: How did you find BORP? A: After moving to the Bay Area, I reached out to a former goalball team USA member who told me that goalball practice was happening on Wednesday evenings. Once I found goalball, I found BORP and have been a part of the community ever since.

Q: Do you have a favorite BORP story?
A: I have lots of BORP stories, but my favorite is that I met the woman who is now my wife at BORP goalball practice. We played goalball, ate pizza, and drank beer at Lane Splitters together. That was how we “dated” for a long time. Many of our goalball friends came to our wedding and it was all because of BORP.

Q: What is your favorite non-sport activity? A: I enjoy time with friends and family, and sipping a nice cold beer. My next project is going to be restarting my home brew beer hobby. I spend much of my time with my two little girls, Semone and Zyona. You can usually find us at different parks around Lake Merritt.

Q: Who is one of your sports heroes and why?
A: Draymond Green from the Warriors is my favorite sports player. I really like the passion and the intelligence he plays with on the court. While it’s true that sometimes his emotions get the better of him, I see him growing as a person, and now that he is a father I think he has matured greatly. Mostly I like that he can see and play the game within the game. His basketball intelligence is really quite impressive.

Q: What are you most looking forward to at BORP? A: Right now I’m really looking forward to getting programs started back up again. That is the main thing that I am focused on. So, stay tuned for more information regarding that.

Q: What is the one game moment you could watch over and over again? A: Back in 2014 I was playing goalball at a tournament in Michigan. My team was evenly matched against the other one. Somewhere in the second half, I was feeling good on the court and my shoulder and arm were nice and warmed up. I threw what was described as one of the nastiest curveballs ever to score on a goalball court. I can remember almost exactly how the ball felt as I released it from my hand. And I can still hear how the ball sounded as it went down the court. But, mostly I remember hearing one of the coaches or spectators astounded gasp as the defending player bit hard on the fake and the shot scored. Definitely one of my favorite memories on the court.

An Update on the BORP Revolution Ride, Roll & Stroll 2021

By Jill Gorman on July 30, 2021

In the wake of recent increases in COVID-19 rates due to the Delta variant, BORP has decided to move the 2021 Revolution Ride, Roll & Stroll on Saturday, September 18th from Santa Rosa to Berkeley, CA.

Moving the event from Santa Rosa to Berkeley allows us to have greater site control to safeguard participants. It also means that we can hold a fabulous and fun, in-person Festival locally to which all Revolution participants are invited.

Given the sudden nature of our venue change, the location and time of the Revolution Festival is still being finalized. We will provide more information as soon as we can.

COVID Safety

To support event safety, attendees at the Festival will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative COVID test within the previous 72 hours. Masks will be required in any indoor areas of the Festival.

The Routes

BORP Suggested Routes

Unfortunately, the move means that BORP will not be able to provide any supported rides for cyclists (i.e., no SAG Wagons, rest stops, or refreshments on route.) HOWEVER, we are planning to provide suggested routes for participants (and their teams if they have one) to take on 9/18, starting and ending at the BORP Cycling Center. We will hold group rides for adaptive cyclists and friends and family.

Suggested routes will go along the San Francisco Bay Trail and will be from 5 miles long to about 50. There are some wonderful options, including going south to cycle on the Bay Bridge or even as far as the San Mateo Bridge, or north to Richmond, across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and into Marin County. Participants can also circle the lake at Aquatic Park adjacent to the BORP Cycling Center (about 4 miles).

Do Your Own Route

Or, participants can complete their ride (or other activity) in another location anytime during the month of September. And no matter where or when participants complete their activity, you are welcome to the in-person Festival on September 18th.

Fundraising Updates

Fundraising minimums for all adult participants are now $250, and $125 for youth ages 9-17. (Though, of course, we encourage everyone to raise as much as you can to support BORP’s programs!)

For Participants Who Cannot Attend the 9/18 Festival in Berkeley

Folks are highly encouraged to sign up for the Revolution even if you can’t attend the live event in Berkeley on 9/18/2021. In fact, we need your support now more than ever!

You will still be eligible to receive all the incentives offered to other participants. Your fundraising will directly support BORP’s programs. And you will also have the option of following a live stream of the event and to take part in some fun online activities.

Volunteers

BORP will still need volunteers to help at the Revolution Festival. This will include helping out at the Festival, cheering on participants in BORP suggested routes, and helping with a variety of other tasks. For more information about volunteering go the Rev website and look out for opportunities on BORP’s social media.

A Critically Important Fundraiser

As everyone knows, the pandemic has caused a lot of financial uncertainty for nonprofits like BORP. The Revolution Ride, Roll & Stroll is BORP’s most important fundraiser of the year and we still need your support–now more than ever, in fact. We are planning a fabulous, fun Revolution Festival in Berkeley that will bring together our community in a safe environment. Please sign up for the Revolution now!!

Registration is open. Sign up to Join the Revolution!

Have more questions?

The Revolution Website FAQ section has been updated, and we at BORP are always happy to respond to your questions: you may reach out to us anytime by emailing RevRide@borp.org.

Categories : Adaptive Cycling, BORP Fitness, BORP General Interest, fitness

45 Years of Innovation and Leadership

By Jill Gorman on May 7, 2021

A Brief History of BORP

by Bonnie Lewkowicz

BORP 45th Anniversary- Bonnie Lewkowicz of BORP

I first learned about BORP in 1978 while studying for my Recreation Therapy degree. I knew immediately that I wanted to do my internship there because it was one of the very few community sports & recreation programs for people with disabilities in the US; it was also located in Berkeley, the heart of the Disability Rights Movement. I ended up staying on for seven years and got to be a part of BORP’s history of being a leader and innovator in the field of adaptive sports and recreation.

Many years later, I returned to BORP when the program I founded, Access Northern California, became a project of BORP in 2018.

The fact that BORP’s programs have had life-changing results for so many people has fueled BORP’s resilience. BORP has always been much more than a recreation program. At BORP, people feel part of a community, gain independence, and thrive. And BORP has been a leader in so many ways.

When BORP was founded in 1976, it was one of the first community-based adaptive sports & recreation programs in the country.

And, in 1986, BORP started the first sports program on the West Coast for youth with disabilities. Other firsts include holding the first wheelchair tennis tournament in the East Bay and entering the first and only wheelchair centipede in the centipede division in the Bay to Breakers race!

BORP also helped to bring wheelchair rugby to California, started the CA league, and BORP’s team, Quadzilla, had the only female coach to win a National Championship. In 1988, BORP started the first power soccer team in CA and possibly the country. And our adaptive cycling program was the first in the country to offer drop-in hours.

Other achievements include successfully pushing the UC system to allow people with physical disabilities to take PE classes. And, most recently, during the pandemic BORP was one of the first organizations to offer virtual fitness programming–now serving participants from across the country.

Now, as we celebrate BORP’s 45^th Anniversary, I’m looking forward to many more years of leadership and innovation from our organization.

Categories : BORP General Interest

Garnett Silver-Hall: This year’s recipient of the Jennifer Howitt Award

By Jill Gorman on May 5, 2021

By BORP Youth Team Coach, Trooper Johnson

About nine years ago, the BORP youth team was at the Oakland Ice Center, getting ready for Sled Hockey, when a little kid skated in on a skateboard. He was a small kid, followed by his father, a brightly dressed man wearing a headwrap and a worried smile on his face. He asked about sled hockey and if we could let his son try it. His son was Garnett Silver-Hall. And this meeting was the start of something big.

Garnett Silver-Hall 45th Award Recipient — Garnett Silver-Hall playing sled hockey. BORP 45th Anniversary *Jennifer Howitt Award* recipient. – Photo: Copyright Trooper Johnson. All Rights Reserved.

Garnett has arthrogryposis, and his condition doesn’t allow him to bend his elbows. He had mastered the skill of propelling himself on the skateboard, but I wasn’t sure how that was going to work in a sled. But the more I watched him, I realized that the motion he used to skate was very similar to what he would need to do in a sled. We got him some gear, adjusted a sled, and threw him on the ice. All bundled up and he could barely move. But we soon discovered he had a natural ability on the ice.

Garnett flowed through turns, and with his modified choppy strokes, he started picking up speed. Above all, he was fearless. He wasn’t afraid to hit anything on the ice, and started developing a terrific shot. The program was still in its early stages, and some days there would only be a few kids on the ice. But Garnett was always there, pushing himself to get better. As the team grew, he continued to develop his talents, and was invited to the USA Hockey Development Camp, where he was able to learn from and compete against members of the USA National Team.

While Garnett was playing sled hockey, we kept inviting him out to the basketball court, but he would never accept. Finally, he tried it out. Because of his disability, pushing a chair did not come naturally. It took time, but he slowly started to get more speed, and was able to control the chair with the ball.

Over time, he became much more fluid and incredibly fast. And he showed that same fearless nature he’d had on the ice. He challenged himself in every way possible, and fell more times than any kid I’ve ever seen, but he always got right back up. And there was something special about him that the other kids were drawn to—they all lit up when he got into the gym.

Garnett graduated high school during 2020, and was accepted into the University of Arizona—which is where he is now. He’s currently playing wheelchair basketball for the Wildcats. Garnett certainly deserves BORP’s Jennifer Howitt Award for his athletic ability, but he’s also been a friend and mentor to his teammates and someone who’s contributed to his community in so many ways. Among other things, he worked with the CCS unit in Santa Rosa to put on an adapted skating clinic, and worked with one of his teammates (Ben Thornton) to teach a basketball clinic in Santa Rosa. He always wanted to present opportunities to get other kids engaged in sports. We’re thrilled that he’s continued to stay engaged with the kids on BORP’s Jr. Road Warriors team. He will always be considered part of the sled hockey and basketball teams. And we’re delighted that he’s being honored during BORP’s 45^th Anniversary Event. We hope you’ll join us on Wednesday June 9^th to celebrate Garnett and BORP.

Categories : BORP General Interest, BORP Youth Sports, sled-hockey, youth-wheelchair-basketball

From Rick Smith, Executive Director – February 2021

By Jill Gorman on February 26, 2021

Finally, there’s some good news on the virus front! The decline in cases and hospitalizations, along with the steady increase in vaccinations, is giving us real hope of returning to our full menu of sports and recreation programming. My hope is that we’ll be back into the gym sometime this summer. But as we have all learned, nothing about this virus is predictable. Still, all of us at BORP can’t help being excited at the prospect of returning to play!

We’re also excited about several activities that we’re adding to our spring schedule. Our new kayaking program at Aquatic Park will be launched in April. We’re adding several new outdoor and online fitness classes, and BORP’s new birding program is already up and running.

So, even though we’ll have to live with the restrictions of the pandemic for some time longer, BORP still has a lot to offer. We hope you’ll join us!

Categories : BORP General Interest

Looking Forward to a Return to Play!

By Jill Gorman on January 29, 2021

From Rick Smith, Executive Director

It’s hard to believe that almost a year has gone by in our COVID-altered world. While BORP pivoted quickly to provide virtual activities and reopen the Cycling Center, our sports program was forced to go quiet. Unfortunately, as the pandemic continues, little is certain. However, one thing we do know is that BORP’s commitment to sports programming remains as strong as ever.

It’s unclear how long the pause in sports programming will last. My guess is that we’ll be unable to get back into the gym (or hockey rink) until the summer or fall, but we will be back as soon as possible.
As we prepare for that day, we’re starting the process of finding a successor for Jonathan Newman (BORP’s Adult Sports Coordinator, who’s retiring this month). It’s impossible to put into words what Jon has done to further BORP’s sports programs over the last few decades, and I won’t try to do that here (but we are planning to formally celebrate his achievements later this year).

In the meantime, everyone on the board and staff is eagerly looking forward to the day we can get back to PLAY!

Categories : BORP General Interest

BORP in the News: BORP among recipients of Share the Spirit awards

By Jill Gorman on December 15, 2020

Published: December 13, 2020

Article by: David Debolt | ddebolt@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group

BORP’s programs are highlighted in this article as part of the Share the Spirit holiday holiday campaign, sponsored by the Bay Area News Group.

Article is featured on The Mercury News website.

Categories : BORP General Interest

Help BORP Amplify the Voices of People with Disabilities in Sports!

By Jill Gorman on December 15, 2020

Here at BORP, we’d like to encourage our participants to complete an important national survey about adaptive sport.
Created by Move United in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, this survey is expected to be the largest study into the impact of sport participation on the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

We need your help to amplify the voice of adaptive athletes!

What’s more, BORP will be eligible for a $500 grant from Move United if enough of our participants fill out this survey. So, by completing the survey, you also help BORP secure those funds.

If you are a person with a disability age 18+, please take 15 minutes to complete the survey: https://illinoisahs.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5bcnqHNSHVMre3X

Complete the Survey

Categories : BORP General Interest

BORP Fitness Studio Teacher Spotlight: Leia Cash

By Betsy Dorsett on October 23, 2018 1 Comments

Leia Cash

Leia Cash teaches World Dance For All! every Thursday from 1-2pm. The styles she draws from include but are not limited to: salsa, cha cha, merengue, swing, African, Brazilian samba, “old school” funk, disco and more. “I’m so excited to be teaching at BORP because it reaches out to MY community here in the East Bay and welcomes everybody regardless of what kind of body and abilities they have. The opportunity to dance and move with you is so close to my heart.”

More about Leia:

I am a bay area native, and have had the good fortune to live outside the U.S. for a number of years. There are so many things I love about the bay area, including all the wonders of nature right on our doorstep.
I first learned about BORP 3 years ago when I took an excellent yoga class taught by Eric Irvin. I took a look at the BORP Fitness Center class schedule and decided to offer a dance class at BORP.
You may not know this about me: I speak Swedish and Italian fluently. My French needs practice!

Sign up for classes at the BORP Fitness Studio

Categories : BORP Fitness, BORP General Interest, fitness

How was your last trip to the California Coast?

By Bonnie Lewkowicz on April 30, 2018 No Comments

The California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) wants to hear from you about any access barriers that prevent you from visiting and experiencing the California coast. Please take 10 minutes of your time to complete this online questionnaire focused on removing barriers to access for people with disabilities.

Feel free to share this questionnaire which will close on May 18. If you experience trouble filling out the survey contact Tim Gilbert or Laurel Kelly at 510-845-7459.