Katelynn’s Ride: “Nothing is ever too hard to do if your faith is strong and your purpose is true.”
Katelynn Battista
Katelynn’s Ride has raised more than $1.4 million to fund research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Baystate Regional Cancer Program’s Pediatric Oncology. Each year, Bradway friends partner with Fit to Ride to provide bike adjustments and last minute tune-ups to Katelynn’s Ride cyclists and fund-raisers. This year’s ride takes place on Sunday, June 3, leaving from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. If you’re interested in learning more or riding, click here.
2011 Katelynn’s Ride Photo Gallery
Challenging Ourselves to Change Lives: Taking it on the road June 2 to support Best Buddies
Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to almost 1,500 middle school, high school and college chapters worldwide.
This year, Brian and a few Bradway Buddies are joining Team Western Mass in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge to raise more than $10,000 for Best Buddies programs. They take to the road on June 2 for a 100-mile ride. To learn more: Best Buddies
Providing summer fun, activity and friendships for individuals with intellectual disabilities since 1965
For seven weeks each summer, full day recreational programming is provided at the John J. Nerden Regional Training Center in Middlefield, CT. This program includes swimming, arts and crafts, music, outdoor recreation, cookouts and special events. During the winter a variety of activities are available such as bowling, swimming, field trips, dances and holiday events. A certified special education teacher serves as the camp director, and each area of the program is supervised by one or two experienced college students or adults. A large group of middle and high school student volunteers from surrounding towns plays a major role in the camp’s total operation. Sponsorship by Bradway helps makes this “special place for special people” possible. Learn more: Camp Nerden
Project RIDE: Turning the wrenches on adapted trikes, giving special needs individuals a chance to enjoy the freedom and fun of powering their own ride
Project RIDE stands for Recreation, Independence, Development and Equipment. A project of the Springfield Jewish Community Center’s Kehillah special needs program, Project RIDE provides special needs children with modified tricycles and information about adaptive sports programs in Western Massachusetts. An emphasis is placed on the importance of recreational activities for special needs children and their families. You’ll always find a few Bradway folks lurking about during the spring tune-up season, getting the trikes ready for the road and adjusting them to growing bodies and changing needs. To learn more: Project Ride
Spring 2011 Tune-Up Photo Gallery
St. Baldrick’s Foundation: Todd and Brian are 2011 “shavees,” going bald and shiny in solidarity with kids fighting cancer
Throwing vanity out the window, Todd Holland (husband of Bradway’s Sue Holland) and Brian Case experienced “the brilliance of being bald” while raising funds for life-saving cancer research. Their fundraising efforts will raise much-needed research support while their bald heads were a display of solidarity with kids who have cancer – most of whom don’t get to choose how to style their hair today. To learn more or donate: St. Baldrick’s Foundation
2011 St. Baldrick’s Photo Gallery
KEEP: Supporting health screenings designed to test those at risk for kidney failure
Bradway is proud to support the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) serving Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Their free Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) is designed to test those who may be at risk for kidney failure throughout the year at various locations. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two main causes of kidney failure. Participants are screened for both of these concerns and trained medical professionals offer blood tests and urinalysis to determine the person’s level of protein and serum creatinine (an important measure of kidney function). Learn more: National Kidney Foundation
Compass Fund provides educational scholarships in New London, Connecticut
The Compass Fund is an independent non-profit group that provides educational scholarships to students in New London, CT. The Compass Fund receives no state or federal funding, and operates thanks to its generous supporters. Scholarships are awarded to students starting in Kindergarten – 3rd grade, and are based solely on need. To learn more or make a donation: The Compass Fund
