Long Beach Attracts SummerFest Crowd

More than 200 participants came from all over the US to climb, sail, cycle, wheel, scuba, water ski, and paddle as part of The Million Dollar Round Table Foundation SummerFest 2004. With Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA), coordinating the support and volunteer assistance offered by several DS/USA chapters, California's Long Beach morphed into a citywide playground for adults. Activities at the June 26-July 2 gala spanned five miles of beaches, Venice-like waterways, and multiple inland sporting sites for the new and returning participants.

As part of this year's SummerFest, DS/USA also invited 29 special guests a group of US soldiers who were injured in Iraq to join the participants for elite-level coaching in a variety of sports. A number of the men had also participated in special snow skiing events last winter as guests of DS/USA.

A nearby Stanton, California, resident and returning SummerFest participant, Gina Inhelder, was touched by the presence of the mostly amputee soldiers. "Having the military men there, especially over July 4th, made this year so meaningful," she noted. "It made me realize the sacrifices people make that we can so easily take for granted. I honor and thank them for what they do, and am appreciative that I was able to participate alongside them."

The mid-summer week kicked off with an afternoon sailing excursion for special guests. Sailboats were manned by Access to Sailing staff and volunteers, with loaned boats provided by Pacific Sailing Charters and Marina Sailing. After the two-hour sail, the group enjoyed a speedboat ride, courtesy of Rainbow Rocket and Harbor Breeze Yacht Charters.

From sailing in the harbor, to scuba diving at a high school pool, to canoeing, water-skiing, cycling, and rock-climbing down at the waterfront, guests shuttled around to various sites, testing which sports suited them best. They enjoyed the option to focus on perfecting one skill, or to dabble in all activities, with expert instruction and coaching available across the sports spectrum.

As a preview to late July's famed Tour de France, SummerFest participants also had a unique opportunity to ride alongside Tony Cruz of the US Postal team. With arrangements by Jennifer Stevens of Red Five Racing, and the loan of dozens of adaptive cycles by Project Mobility, the afternoon ride in a nearby park allowed special guests, participants, and volunteers alike to jump into action with a world-class cyclist.

In only its second year, DS/USA's SummerFest has become a hugely successful warm weather event.

The above article is offered by a collective effort of the Schwartz Communications, Inc., media team that aided in publicity for SummerFest 2004.