Hand cyclists led by Kelly Brush head out on the 10th Annual Kelly Brush Century Ride, powered by VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, on September 12, 2015, in Middlebury, Vermont. The annual ride through the Champlain Valley drew more than 700 cyclists and 25 hand cyclists, and raised $365,000 for adaptive sports and ski racing safety. (Photo courtesy of Caleb Kenna.)
The Kelly Brush Foundation announces it has recently awarded $232,650 in grants for adaptive sports equipment, ski racing safety, and strategic partnerships.
According to a media release from the foundation, these grants were awarded to 75 individuals with paralysis, 15 alpine ski clubs from across the country, and in support of pilot programs and partnerships to help grow the foundation’s mission and reach.
“The Kelly Brush Foundation received more applications this year than ever before, and because of a great fund-raising year, we were able to fund more than ever. We are even more motivated and energized for next year,” says Kelly Brush Foundation Founder Kelly Brush, in the release.
The individual Adaptive Sports Equipment Grants, totaling $150,000, were awarded to persons in 31 states to help support the purchase of hand cycles, monoskis, tennis, rugby, basketball and racing chairs as well as all-terrain chairs, hockey sleds, and bowling ramps.
The nearly $75,000 in Ski Racing Safety Grants were awarded to alpine ski racing programs committed to proper safety practices that are seeking to improve safety for their athletes. The grants were awarded to clubs in 12 states to support the purchase of safety equipment, predominantly b-net fencing used to line race and training courses, the release explains.
In addition, another $11,000 was allocated to partnerships and pilot programs aimed at fulfilling the foundation’s goals in innovative ways. For example, Kelly Brush Foundation has partnered with Craig Hospital in Denver to help Craig graduates to own adaptive sports equipment, the release adds.
The annual grants are made possible via supporters and fund-raising events, such as the Kelly Brush Century Ride, which took place this past September in Middlebury, Vt. More than 700 cyclists, including more than 25 hand cyclists, participated, and the event raised more than $365,000 for the foundation.
For more information, visit Kelly Brush Foundation.
[Source: Kelly Brush Foundation]
