|
Norman Conquest one of the 50 best rides in America
(June 4, 2013)
The Bicycle League of Norman's (BLN) annual Norman Conquest bicycle tour around Norman and eastern Cleveland County has been named one of the 50 best rides in America by Bicycling Magazine.
The 18th annual Norman Conquest is scheduled for Saturday, July 13. The ride will begin and end at the J. D. McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities at 2002 East Robinson Street. The tour begins promptly at 7:30 a.m.
"We were thrilled when Bicycling Magazine named our ride as one of the 50 best in America," said Corri Ide, Norman Conquest chairperson. "The Bicycle League of Norman has worked hard over the last 18 years to make the Norman Conquest a great ride for all levels of cyclists. We knew the word was getting out about our event when we had a record 650 riders in the conquest last year.
The BLN will once again donate the proceeds from the Norman Conquest to support the Camp ClapHans scholarship fund. Camp ClapHans is a residential summer camp project of the J. D. McCarty Center for children with special needs ages 8 - 16. Camp ClapHans will open on June 9 for its first of six one-week camp sessions this summer.
"Using a staggered start by route distance in three five minute intervals worked very nicely for us last year," said Ide. "We'll use a staggered start again this year. It really helped cut down on the starting congestion last year."
The routes that contributed to making this a 50 best ride in America are a 10-mile town tour through Norman. It is a flat route and is a very nice family ride. Next is a 22-mile route that introduces some hills to the tour. The 46-mile route is very hilly, and the 64-mile route is seriously hilly proving to many riders that central Oklahoma is not all flat.
All the routes are supported by lots of rest stops and SAG support.
There are four ways to register for the Norman Conquest. The first is to go on line at www.active.com. The second way to register is by picking up a Norman Conquest registration form from your local bike shop. Registration forms will be available in bike shops all over Oklahoma. The third is to register Friday night, July 12, from 5:00 to 9:00 at O'Connell's Irish Pub & Grill, on campus corner, 769 Asp Avenue. The fourth way is to register the morning of the tour at the McCarty Center from 6:00 to 7:15.
Riders in the Norman Conquest can carbo-load Friday night while registering at O'Connell's. Jeff Stewart, owner of O'Connell's and a long time supporter of the Norman Conquest, will host a free pasta dinner. Non participants may eat for $5.
Registration fees for the Norman Conquest are $30 before July 5. After July 5 the fee is $35. The town tour is $15. Registration fees include a t-shirt, hot lunch and lots of air conditioning to cool down in after the ride plus free post-ride massages.
The BLN supports and encourages the growth of recreational bicycling in and around Norman by organizing ride events, supporting bicycle safety and educational activities, participating in local government planning for improved bicycle access and emphasizing the healthful and social aspects of cycling. For more information about the BLN visit www.bicycleleague.com.
The J. D. McCarty Center is Oklahoma's center of excellence in the care and treatment of children with developmental disabilities from birth to 21-years-old. For more information about the McCarty Center visit www.jdmc.org.
Camp ClapHans is a residential summer camp project of the McCarty Center. The scholarship fund supported by the Norman Conquest will help qualifying families offset the cost of camp tuition. For more information about Camp ClapHans contact Megan Stanek, camp director, at 405.307.2814 or mstanek@jdmc.org, or visit www.campclaphans.com.
For more information about the Norman Conquest visit www.normanconquest.bicycleleague.com.
DME Triage at McCarty Center gets a heavy donation
(Tuesday, May 28, 2013)
The DME triage project for children with developmental disabilities affected by the tornados that ravaged central Oklahoma this past week just received a heavy donation in the form of weighted blankets.
Jody Bradford, and her family, from Owasso, Ok, donated 33 weighted blankets to help those who might have lost theirs in this week's tornados. Bradford and her family make these blankets in their small family business called Weight on Me Weighted Blankets.
"These are very high quality blankets," said Maria Greenfield, director of occupational therapy at the McCarty Center. "Weighted blankets help children and adults self comfort and calm themselves. The weight gives an all over deep, gentle pressure. It's like getting a comforting hug."
These blankets can be used by anyone, but are particularly helpful to children with autism.
These blankets are double stitched, 100% cotton. They are machine washable and dryer safe.
Bradford found out about the McCarty Center through social media. She was looking for a way to help kids with special needs who might have lost their weighted blankets in the tornados. Bradford found a Facebook post from someone affected by the tornado who suggested she contact the McCarty Center. The McCarty Center, along with the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, Action Seating and Mobility and other DME providers are offering to repair or obtain loaner mobility and medical equipment for children with special needs whose equipment was damaged or lost in the last week's tornados.
For help call the J. D. McCarty Center at 405.307.2800, and ask to speak to someone in DME triage.
For more information about weighted blankets and how they work visit www.myweightedblanket.com or call Jody Bradford at 918.508.0342.
The Bradford family from Owasso, Ok, donated 33 weighted blankets to the McCarty Center for the DME triage project. Through this project the McCarty Center and its partners want to help kids with special needs who had mobility or medical equipment lost or damaged in this week's tornados get it repaired, or to obtain loaner equipment, until a permanent replacement can be arranged. Presenting the weighted blankets to Maria Greenfield, director of occupational therapy, (far right) are Bill, Jody, Brianna, Alex and Gabby Bradford. The Bradfords make these blankets and have distributed them all over the world.
People with developmental disabilities assistance May 21
(Tuesday, May 21, 2013)
In response to yesterday's tornado, the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, the J. D. McCarty Center, Action Seating and Mobility and other healthcare providers in the area, are coming together to assist children and adults with special needs who are affected.
If you have a specialized piece of mobility or medical equipment that has been damaged or destroyed by the tornado, call the J. D. McCarty Center at 405.307.2800, and ask to speak to someone in DME triage. They will help you get equipment repaired or obtain loaner equipment, while arrangements for permanent replacement equipment can be made.
If you have a child with special needs and need temporary assistance in caring for that child please contact the McCarty Center and ask to speak to someone in social work.
For more information about the McCarty Center visit
www.jdmc.org .
|
|
| 
