FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lake Quinsigamond to host Any Age, Any Disability Adaptive Water Ski Event at Donahue Rowing Center August 17th from 8am-4pm.
First of its kind event at Lake Quinsigamond gives disabled kids the chance to water ski for free.
Worcester, MA – August 2021 – On Tuesday, August 17th from 8am-4pm the Donahue Rowing Center on Lake Quinsigamond will be the site of an “Any Age, Any Disability” Water Ski Event that will allow 25 kids and young adults aged 3 – 26 with various disabilities including spinal bifida, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, blindness, autism and epilepsy the chance to water ski with trained instructors on Lake Quinsigamond. The event will be hosted by the Webster Water Ski Collective, based in Webster and Charlton, the Leaps Of Faith (LOF) skiers based in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, and the Lake Quinsigamond Water Ski Club.
The adaptive ski event will allow members of the disabled community to participate in water skiing using specialized equipment with trained and certified adaptive ski instructors assisting them. A picnic lunch will also be included for the participants and volunteers donated by Bistro Eighty Ates out of Webster. The event is free for the participants and is being paid for through generous donations from our sponsors and local community.
The Webster Water Ski Collective is the only organization in Massachusetts, and one of only four organizations in New England that offer adaptive water skiing. This is the first time the event is being held at Lake Quinsigamond, with prior events hosted by the Webster Water Ski Collective occurring this past June and last August at Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (Webster Lake).
The Webster Water Ski Collective, with assistance from LOF skiers, first brought adaptive skiing to Central Massachusetts last August that saw 24 disabled participants hit the water for a tremendous day on the lake which brought as many smiles from the volunteers and spectators as it did for the participants.
“There is nothing better that we like to do than to share our love of waterskiing with others,” said Webster Water Ski Collective President Ryan DesRoches. “Once you see the faces light up when they hit the water, it’s impossible not to smile and become hooked on doing this. We’re just so happy to be able to bring this opportunity of water skiing to our disabled community who normally would not get the chance to do something like this.”
The demand for these events have been very high. Both the events this year filled up in less than 72 hours of them being announced on The Webster Water Ski Collective’s Facebook page. The goal for the Collective is to host more of these events within Central Massachusetts in the coming years. Multiple events are already being planned for the 2022 season.
“We started with one event last year with 24 skiers, and this year have been able to expand to two events serving over 50 skiers. Our goal is to double our services to four events next season with over 100 skiers in 2022. Our main hurdle is getting the equipment we need, which is very expensive for our club. We have been grateful to have some amazing sponsors that have allowed us to purchase our first adaptive sit skI this past season. We’re also very thankful of our friends at Leaps of Faith who travel from Sandy Hook and offer their time, equipment and knowledge. We are honored to be a part of their 30th season of adaptive skiing” says DesRoches.
These events also bring together the local water ski community, as members from many water ski clubs in the region have come to help volunteer at the event. “Our Adaptive Ski Days are a great social event for both our volunteers and our participants. Many of our disabled participants know each other, and look forward to seeing their friends and chatting with them. For our volunteers, it’s a great chance to mingle and talk about the sport we love. We all love to water ski and if we can give something back to the community while doing what we love to do, it’s a win win” says DesRoches.
Anyone interested in donating to the event or sponsoring may contact Ryan at WebsterWaterSki@gmail.com
More photos of the June 2021 event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=WebsterWaterSki&set=a.4160249494013194
About the Webster Water Ski Collective
The Webster Water Ski Collective is a 501c3 organization with a mission to promote water skiing and watersports in a safe and fun environment for all ages and skill levels. Founded in 2020, the Collective is embarking on its second full season with skiing out of Point Breeze Marina on Webster Lake and Glen Echo Lake in Charlton. In addition to hosting adaptive ski events, the Webster Water Ski Collective also hosts free learn-to-ski events for the public during the summer months. In December, the collective hosts a “Swaterski” event where participants brave the cold water in Webster Lake for water skiing and then head to Wachusett Mountain for snow skiing, all in an effort to raise money for the National Brain Tumor Society. In 2020, the inaugural Swaterski event raised over $14,000.
About Leaps Of Faith
The Leaps of Faith is a 501c3 organization based in Sandy Hook, Connecticut and is celebrating its 30th year in hosting adaptive water and snow ski events for the disabled community in the Northeast United States. Since its founding in 1992, by National Champion Water Ski Jumper Joel Zeisler, Leaps of Faith has provided adaptive sports programs for children, adults and veterans with all types of disabilities, at absolutely no cost to the participant.
https://www.lofadaptiveskiers.org/
Event Sponsors:
Point Breeze Restaurant, Shore Side Docks, Slims & Berthiaume Sewer Service, Long Subaru, Venture Communications & Security, Zmetra Clean Span Structures, Karen Michalson, Research Associates, The Kiva Centers, Donovan Logistics, Nipmuc Discount Liquors, Ted’s Beer, Wine & Spirits, The Webster Five Foundation, Webster Lake Life Celebrations, WPI Construction, Big Belly Cafe, Cornerstone Bank, Webster Lake Association, Lake Realty Agent Maureen Cimoch
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