Kids with TM Enjoy a Week of Outdoor Excitement in Crested Butte, Colorado
The Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) is a non-profit organization working to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities through outdoor adventure activities. Based in Crested Butte, Colorado, the ASC offers programs to improve participants’ confidence, health, independence and overall well-being.
In August, the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center (JHTMC) teamed up with the International Neurorehabilitation Institute (INI) to bring together a small group of kids with TM on a weeklong adventure. With the coordination of the ASC they were able to make this big adventure a reality!
Dr. Daniel Becker (JHTMC/INI), his wife Sharen (INI) and I worked with ASC to put the trip together. And lucky us! We got to go along and experience all the fun right alongside the kids and parents!
It was a busy, wonderful week. The group went canoeing and kayaking on the scenic Lake Irwin, learned about horse care and the basics of horseback riding at a working ranch, and went rafting and kayaking on the white waters of the Gunnison River. The itinerary wrapped up with a full day of fun and teamwork at a ropes course that included a zip line and giant swing.
Everyone fully participated in the week’s activities – even the newbies. The kids’ faces told the whole story as they conquered their trepidation and discovered their own inner strengths. It was great to see uncertainty melt away into joy, courage, camaraderie and laughter.
After enjoying the natural wonders of the mountains, there was also time to explore the little town of Crested Butte, whose charms included some terrific and kind people, along with some pretty unbelievable homemade ice cream and French fries! We definitely enjoyed replacing all the calories we burned from our activity.
JHTMC and INI can’t thank ASC enough for facilitating this high-adventure experience and for being a constant source of support throughout our time in Crested Butte. We hope to be back next year!
For more information on ASC, visit https://www.adaptivesports.org.
~ Maureen A. Mealy, RN, BSN, MSCN, Clinical Program Manager at the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center and the Neuromyelitis Optica Clinic in Baltimore, MD
