Sports Association Newsletter
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Dear Friends of the Sports Association,
Summer has started with a bang! We have been busy with two of our biggest fundraising events as well as kicking off our summer programs! This year’s Gaylord Golf Classic was held on Monday, June 19 at Great River Golf Club in Milford. A full field of golfers enjoyed a wonderful day of golf with picturesque views and lovely weather. The Gaylord Gauntlet took place on Saturday, June 24 with nearly 1,000 runners taking on a very rainy and muddy obstacle course. Together, both events raised more than $150,000 for the Gaylord Sports Association! Thank you to all who supported these important fundraising events!
Our summer calendar is jam packed with kayaking, waterskiing, cycle rides, pickleball, golf clinics and archery clinics! Plus, our Paratriathlon Team is busy practicing and getting ready for the race in September. For our golfers, the KMMO adaptive golf tournament will be held in August, and registration is now open!
Check out our full calendar and join us for a summer program!
Yours in Sport,
The Gaylord Sports Association |
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The return of our annual Adaptive Cycle Clinic was a success! The clinic was held on May 20th at Southern Connecticut State University. Participants at the clinic were able to learn about and try adaptive cycles on the indoor track. Thank you to our event partners Ti-Trikes and Bike-On for bringing an excellent selection of bikes, including some adaptive mountain bikes and to the Move United VA Adaptive Sports Grant for helping to make this event possible! |
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Veterans Fishing Tournament |
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The Veterans Fishing Tournament held on May 9th was a huge success with 24 veterans in attendance! Volunteer boat captains were each paired with a veteran and they enjoyed a day on the water, fishing on Candlewood Lake. The day ended with a weigh-in and awards luncheon. Congratulations to veteran Scott Rutkauskas and boat captain Scott Janus for their first place finish with a combined weight of 20.39 lbs. for 5 fish and to our lunker winners, Thomas Ferland and Abe Kalechman who caught a 6.56 lb. fish! Many thanks to our partners and sponsors: Move United & the VA Adaptive Sports Grant, Connecticut BASS Nation and Major Steven Roy Andrews Fishing Outreach Program. Photos from the event can be viewed in our Facebook Album. |
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The Gaylord Gauntlet 5k Trail and Obstacle Run celebrated its ninth year with nearly 1,000 runners racing through the muddiest course to date. Congratulations to Gaylord Sports Association teams and athletes Natalie Matarazzo and Cameron Senna for conquering the Gaylord Gauntlet! This year, there were 22 adaptive athletes competing in the Gauntlet! A big thank you to all the runners, volunteers and sponsors who all help to make this event possible! All event proceeds will benefit the Gaylord Sports Association's adaptive sports programs. The course offers wooded trails, open field running and 24 natural and man-made obstacles including walls, climbing net, logs, a waterslide and more. Check out the video of featured athlete Natalie Matarazzo conquering the course! |
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Adaptive Equipment Grant from The Hartford |
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Gaylord Sports Association received a $40,000 grant from The Hartford in partnership with Move United for new adaptive sports equipment! The grant enabled the purchase of wheelchair tennis chairs, sled hockey sleds, an adaptive cycle, adaptive waterskis and archery equipment. We are grateful for this grant which will help expand our sports program and support increased access to adaptive sports to more athletes with a disability. As part of this grant, The Hartford surprised former Gaylord Hospital inpatient and Sports Association athlete, Chelsea Michaud, with a new, custom-fit tennis wheelchair during the Gaylord Gauntlet on June 24th. The new adaptive sports equipment was also unveiled during this special presentation with The Hartford. Read more about Chelsea's story in the Republican American.
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The Annual Gaylord Golf Classic was held Monday, June 19th at the Great River Golf Club in Milford. Event proceeds benefit the Gaylord Sports Association, enabling us to organize, promote, and run 15 different adaptive sports programs at little to no cost to participants. The golf tournament was attended by 150 golfers comprised of business leaders, hospital vendors, doctors, members of the Hospital Board of Directors, donors, adaptive athletes and friends. A special thank you to our guest speaker Korene Varano who shared her story of how adaptive sports has impacted her life after her amputation. Check out the link to the news coverage of the story. Thank you to all our supporters of this event! |
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Our Adaptive Waterski Clinics are fast approaching on July 22 and August 19. These clinics offer participants the opportunity to try, learn, and progress in this fast and exciting water sport. Instruction is provided by USA Waterski Certified instructors, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, and expert water skiers. We welcome both new and experienced skiers to enjoy a day of water skiing. New participants must provide an MD note. All participants must pass a water safety test, and meet all essential eligibility requirements. For more information on eligibility, please see the FAQ's on our webpage or give us a call! Essential eligibility is also detailed in the registration form. |
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Dates & Times
Saturday, July 22, 2023
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday, Aug 19, 2023
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location:
Pachaug Pond, Griswold, CT
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We are bringing back our outdoor kayak outings with a new partner this year - Black Hall Outfitters in Old Lyme! Join us and explore the Great Island Estuary and the CT River Canoe and Kayak Trail. Kayak Outings are for individuals who have participated and passed the Sports Association’s Kayak Classes and would like to take their skills to the next level, or just enjoy an outdoor kayak experience. Outings include all the necessary equipment and guidance from both American Canoe Association certified instructors and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. Kayaking is not only a great fitness activity, it’s an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, socialize, watch for wildlife, relax and just have fun! Essential eligibility applies so please call the Sports Association at 203-284-2772 for more information! |
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Dates:
Monday, July 10
Thursday, August 10
Times:
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Black Hall Outfitters, Old Lyme, CT
Fee: $15 per outing |
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It's time to get rolling with our adaptive cycle program. This program offers recreational group rides designed to be enjoyable for riders of all abilities. Rides are located in Cheshire on the linear trail, which is a paved trail, free from traffic. Typical rides average 60-90 minutes and 3-8 miles. If you are new to this program and have not completed a cycle fit with us, we will schedule a time for this prior to your first ride to determine which cycle will work best for you. To begin the registration process, please complete the online cycle form for this year's cycle program (link below). Once we receive your form, we will contact you to schedule your first ride and reserve an adaptive cycle for you if needed. Additional rides can be scheduled after attending your first ride. |
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Dates & Times
Thursdays
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
July 20
August 17
August 31
September 14 **4:00pm - 6:00pm** Location:
Cheshire Linear Trail
450 Jarvis St
Cheshire, CT |
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Pickleball Open Play Sessions
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Are you interested in trying the sport of pickleball? Join the Gaylord Sports Association and pickleball experts for open play sessions. Pickleball is an easy to learn paddle sport that can be enjoyed by all ability and skill levels, which includes standing or seated players. All equipment will be provided. Wheelchair players may use their own chair or reserve a tennis chair to use for the clinic. Pickleball combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, much like a wiffle ball, over a net. |
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Dates & Times:
Wednesdays
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
July 19
July 26
August 9
August 23
Location:
Gaylord Tennis Courts |
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Our Adaptive Archery Clinics are a great opportunity to try archery or practice your technique. Come learn from USA Archery certified coaches and experienced archers. All skill levels are welcome and equipment is provided. |
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Dates & Times:
Tuesdays
2:00PM - 3:00PM or 3:00PM - 4:00PM
July 25
August 8
September 5
Location:
Gaylord Speciality Healthcare, Wallingford |
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Golf clinics provide the opportunity to work with a trained PGA professional, Certified Recreation Therapists and volunteers to adapt the sport of golf, overcome barriers, and support independence. Clinics will include driving and putting. Beginners and returning participants are welcome and all equipment is provided. |
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Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM or
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location:
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare
Wallingford, CT |
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Ken Murphy Memorial Open Golf Tournament |
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The KMMO Golf Tournament is open for registration! This annual 9-hole golf tournament provides an opportunity for individuals with a physical disability or a visual impairment to compete in a friendly competition against other golfers with similar ability levels. The tournament is for golfers who are able to golf independently (with or without adaptations) for 9-holes at a reasonable rate of play. The tournament awards prizes to the lowest scoring pair and for contests, such as closest to the pin. An awards luncheon is included in this fun morning of golf! |
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Tuesday, August 22, 2023
The Farms Country Club
Wallingford, CT
Tournament Fee: $20
To register, please complete the online application form using the link below. |
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Pre-registration is required for all programs. Please contact us with questions or to register by emailing sports@gaylord.org or by calling 203-284-2772. Clinics will have a maximum number of participants per session. Some programs have essential eligibility requirements for safety. Cost is FREE unless otherwise noted. |
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The Gaylord Sports Association is dedicated to improving the lives of persons with physical disabilities through adaptive sports and recreation. We are a program of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, located in Wallingford, CT. We are a proud chapter member of Move United. We serve adults ages 16 and up with physical disability or visual impairment and welcome new members to join us. For more information, please visit our webpage, call us at 203-284-2772 or email sports@gaylord.org. |
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The Sports Association is dedicated to improving the lives of persons with physical disabilities through adaptive sports and recreation.
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