Our pictures speak volumes ………. #City2Surf2015 #ParaQuadNSW #I/OMerino

Our pictures speak a thousand words…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support these winners : Click here 

Emily and Cobie are raising awareness and funds for ParaQuadNSW – supporting people with spinal cord injuries in their communities.

Special thanks to our team; Nicola, Noni, Mandy, Julie and Tim, Martha, Gary, Gemma and Leanne.

Special support along the route from Rosie and Sophie, Elvis, The Village People, The Australian Army Rock Band, The Fire and Rescue Band, NSW Police Rock Band (Wow -Belinda Adams has a voice!).

Everybody, all the enthusiasm and en route entertainment made the day fabulous!

We are pushing #City2Surf – to raise awareness and funds for community support……

I collected our team bibs for City2Surf2015 and started to get excited, less than 48 hours!!

We had our last training session on Wednesday which went well except very breezy which meant Emily and Cobie both felt cold. We had a group discussion about layering up for Sunday. I can assure you all now that there will be no shedding of clothes when these two race! Keeping warm is an issue as a wheelchair user.

 

Emily is fortunate to own I/O Merino garments, light weight layers that help conquer the cold. The altitude full length tights are the ultimate underwear. These thermals are lightweight making them perfect for layering and the mid rise fit with an elasticated waist band ensures that they will never slip down. The altitude lightweight long sleeve top is perfect for wearing on its own or when exercising as the fabric is breathable allowing moisture to be wicked away from the skin helping to keep Emily from feeling clammy. I mention this because Emily wouldn’t leave home without these imperative layers under her sports wear.

 

 

The team will be in royal blue ParaQuadNSW jerseys. We are starting in the Gold Charity wave at 8.20am. If you see us  – cheer!!

As members of ParaQuadNSW both Emily and Cobie have been awarded funds to continue their studies, a integral link to rehabilitating after a traumatic spinal cord injury.

 

 

Both Emily and Cobie will be pushing to Bondi using their Freewheel attachment. It allows them the confidence to tackle terrain without worrying that their front casters will eject them if they catch a divot on the course.

 

 

Our last training session was slightly soured as our coach was noticeably absent due to a grooming appointment.  Unfortunately Beastie can not compete on the day so we will have to manage without her barking instructions and infectious enthusiasm.

 

 

If you would like to sponsor Emily on this epic challenge to raise awareness and funds for ParaQuadNSW, an organisation that supports people with spinal cord injuries in their community,  please click here for details. Thank you x

ParaQuad.org.au   Click here

I/O Merino underwear layers    Click here

Freewheel from Able Rehabilitation Equipment   Click here 

See you there! Sunday 9th August 2015

City2Surf with a FreeWheel !

This weeks training session was exciting because Emily tried out her new FreeWheel.

The FreeWheel is described………….. “If you are in a wheelchair and want to have more freedom, get outside, enjoy hiking trails, or easily glide down bumpy sidewalks and curbs, then the FreeWheel attachment is the answer. This adaptive equipment is durable, lightweight (2+ Kg) and quickly clamps to the footrest of a rigid-frame wheelchair. It allows you to push over surfaces that would typically be impossible. Strolling, exercising, hiking, or just checking the mailbox, is so much easier. Grass, curbs, and rough roads can be easily navigated.“

So with the FreeWheel attached we set off around Centennial Park……

The FreeWheel lifts Emily’s front casters just off the ground so that the more robust FreeWheel leads over uneven paths, grass or cobbled stones. It alleviates the necessity for me to run behind Emily as prior to this attachment I had to watch the ground ahead  to anticipate if Emily’s small casters would be halted in a rut and lunge her forward out of her seat.

The FreeWheel gave Emily a smooth roll around the park prior to us basking in the Sydney sunshine with our coffee treat.

It was a good training session as we averaged 5.3 km an hour at one point although Heartbreak Hill will reduce our speed on the City2Surf route. We finally left for a late lunch although Beastie could circuit Centennial Park all day. She’s a tough coach to keep up with!

We bought the FreeWheel from www.ablerehab.com.au in Silverwater. They took time to adjust the FreeWheel to Emily’s frame and ensured it fitted precisely. Contact details here

Good food and exercise …research aims to establish and implement programs to aid SCI health.

We all know that good food is important …..lots of green vegetables, salads and fresh fruit.  I met an aged tortoise that reminded me of that fact recently at Singapore Zoo but there is another important factor to human longevity – exercise!

“Exercise” You say?

The importance of exercise and the best ways to implement activity are being addressed in a UK Department of Health Study. A lead researcher at the University of Bath, Tom Nightingale, explained: “One of the best ways to reduce the risk of chronic diseases is to become more physically active, but for wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries achieving this can be more complex. We want to understand more about the impact of regular moderate intensity-exercise for these people and to devise new programmes that can help promote physically active.”

There are around 3 million wheelchair users in the USA and approx 5 million wheelchair users in the European Union with probably over 12 million wheelchair users worldwide and as a result of inactivity lifestyle diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease are more likely to occur in this vulnerable group and at an earlier age. Promoting exercise with resulting better health in this large group would have a beneficial impact; physically, mentally and economically.

There is a tendency to reduce exercise if it causes pain or if exercise just gets too arduous; finding the time, having a carer to assist or just having local accessible activities. I want to address this issue with Emily, using exercise to break the unhealthy relationship between disability and weight gain.

Emily and I have found that exercise has to be a scheduled in our day. We aim to enjoy our yoga, stretch or swimming session because we have ample time allocated. The equipment we use is readily available in all good sports shops.

Emily and I have adapted particular sports to accommodate her abilities. It takes trial and error but we have enjoyed the process and we both benefit from our efforts.

We keep our program simple and our aims are similar whether swimming or enjoying  a yoga session;

• Full range of motion in all joints, start head and move to toe.
• We stretch the whole body, addressing the body as a complete entity.
• Deep breathing, inhale and on the exhale extending a stretch
• Strengthening without tiring her overused muscles
• Make use of parks with accessible pathways to exercise outdoors
• Maintain a variety of activities; ice skate, hand cycle, bowling, sail-ability
• SCIA Walk On Program
• Keep it fun

Reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease is a priority, diet and exercise are pivotal to achieving that. I welcome the UK research as it is seeking to gain statistical evidence to devise programs that help inactive people participate in exercise.  

Basically diet and exercise are a duo that have to be constantly considered in our every day schedules. As a carer I benefit as much as Emily from healthy eating and lots of exercise.