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| Top Stories |
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 TWSA Bolsa Chica
Kicking off the 2009 season, LRO’s first They Will Surf Again (of 10 in 2009) will take place at Bolsa Chica State Beach on Sunday, May 3 at Tower 21. With close to 26 surfers, including Ms. Wheelchair California Alyson Roth, and more than 150 volunteers already registered, spots are filling up fast. If you are a surfer with a spinal cord injury and plan to join us for some surf, sand and sun, please register ASAP. Three of the surfers will be catching waves for the first time since their injury, so come out to show some Life Rolls On love!
 Special thanks to sponsors SIMA, GSI, Rudy’s Bar and Grill, RIDER SHACK Surf Shop, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, WhatsYourPh.com, Famous Stars & Straps and Huntington Beach Elks Lodge for ensuring the day is a complete success. Thanks to our community rehabilitation partners, Casa Colina, Rancho Los Amigos and Shriner’s Hospital. Media partner, Power 106 radio personality Jeff Garcia, and LRO founder Jesse Billauer will also be on hand to celebrate the first TWSA of 2009, so don’t miss it!
> Register to participate as a surfer
> Orange County Beach Blog
> TWSA Main (9 more TWSA events this year)
> Harán Surf Otra Vez (May 3 TWSA Flyer in Spanish)
Photo Credit Sherri Crummer
 LRO Facebook Fundraiser
Time is running out to help LRO reach its first goal of raising $2350 by the first They Will Surf Again of the season! With only days left before the May 3 event, and despite some amazing donors, including AYP of San Diego, Ludo Boinnard, and Kim LaBonte, each generously contributing $500, we’re still more than $1,000 from our goal. With nearly 6,000 members in our Facebook group, we KNOW we can do this! Celebrate the start of an exciting new season of They Will Surf Again by making a contribution today. Remember, our programs are made possible through the generosity of friends like YOU!
> LRO's Facebook Cause Page
> Read More How These Contributions Support TWSA (PDF)
 AYP LA/OC Mixer May 1
AYP (Active Young Professionals) officially launched a Los Angeles/Orange County chapter and is looking for go-getters and jet-setters to join forces at the first AYP LA/OC Networking Mixer! Sponsored by Equinox Fitness Clubs, Vitamin Water, Virgin America and MillerCoors, the May 1 event will be held from 7-10PM at Spit Studio in Hermosa Beach, the gallery of famed photographer Bo Bridges. Individuals from entertainment, music, sports, publishing, finance, law, travel and more are expected, as well as a special appearance by LRO founder Jesse Billauer.
This is THE opportunity to network, socialize and support Life Rolls On. With membership already hitting 200, don’t miss out and join in on the fun! Visit AYP LA/OC’s Facebook page for more information or to RSVP, which is required to attend the event, email ayplaoc@liferollson.org. See you there!
> AYP homepage on LRO website (includes flyer to event)
 LRO Loses Founding Board Member
Dick Baker, founding Board Member, passed away at the age of 62, after a two year battle with colon cancer. Dick helped Life Rolls On in ways too numerous to list, and his wisdom and intelligence was the product of three decades of success in business. His spirit and passion will continue to live on forever with the work that we do at Life Rolls On.
There will be a public "paddle-out" on May 31 at 3:00PM at Doheny Beach in Dana Point, California.
> Read LRO's Tribute
> Amazing Tributes from Friends and Colleagues
| LRO Community News |
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 LRO Welcomes New Interns
Sandy Sirirat (pictured at right) and Alexandra Hernandez (pictured below) are the newest staff members of LRO as they recently began spring internships with Life Rolls On Foundation. With plans to work in the non-profit sector, Sandy currently interns for LRO as well as volunteers in the development department of the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley. “When Meghan (LRO’s program director) introduced me to Life Rolls On and its mission, I knew I wanted to be a part of the team,” said Sirirat. “I am looking forward to my first They Will Surf Again event and can’t wait to see the surfers’ excitement as they surf again or surf for the very first time.”
 A senior at USC, Allie works in the school’s Financial Administration Department, while completing her degree in communication. “Through countless job listings, nothing stuck with me quite like LRO,” Hernandez explained. “To bring hope to people affected by spinal cord injury was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up and I’m extremely proud to have this internship.”
Both have extensive work experience, as Hernandez is a published author and Sirirat has interned for PR heavyweights Rogers & Cowan and Peoples Revolution, among others. Sandy and Allie will support LRO’s administrative functions as well as help with programmatic, event and fund development needs. Look for them at TWSA Bolsa Chica and make sure to give them a warm welcome!
 CURE SCI HB Completes Bike Tour
While some students use their time away from school to relax, CURE SCI (Campuses Understanding Responsible Education about Spinal Cord Injury) members of Huntington Beach High School organized a “1 Gear – 1 Cause,” bike tour from Santa Barbara to Huntington Beach, CA as a fundraiser for Life Rolls On. This team of dedicated students cycled from April 6 – 10 and finished on schedule and without injury!
“It brought great joy to finally finish, but even greater was each rider had his family at the finish cheering him on and supporting him for that last and final leg of the ride,” said Jake Zylstra, lead organizer of the project. “As a group, we had all worked so hard on this endeavor and invested so much time into it…This trip gave us a sense of connection that will never be forgotten.”
 He advises other students to not let age discourage them from getting involved in their community. “No matter what the age, I believe the sense to help others has no limit or boundaries. Be creative and do what fits best for you, so that you can maximize your fundraising possibilities,” Zylstra advises. “Why not use something you’re good at to help others and have fun with it?”
If you would like to make a contribution to salute their efforts, visit CURE SCI-Huntington Beach HS’s TeamLRO page. Also, read some of the letters LRO received following their ride.
LRO extends its warmest thanks to cyclists Jake Zylstra, Chase Robinson, Chris Shea, Ian Hatchard and Matt Padilla, along with their families, for their extraordinary support of Life Rolls On!
> Read Their Cool Handwritten Letters
 LRO Supports Abilities Expo
Once again, Life Rolls On is pleased to support the Abilities Expo, the premiere show, which for the last 30 years, has been dedicated to educating and improving the lives of Americans with disabilities, senior citizens, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, professional therapists and corporate ADA administrators. It has been the nation’s foremost event for companies to demonstrate their products and services to the largest community of end-users and industry professionals.
With compelling new features, including a career fair, a professional focus, new geographic markets and conference programs which appeal to a wider audience, attendees of the Abilities Expo can expect an even greater event experience. The Abilities Expo will be held in Anaheim, CA on May 29-31; Chicago, IL on June 25-27 and Atlanta, GA on November 5-7.
LRO Ambassador Briana Walker is a featured Ambassador of the Abilities Expo and will appear at the Anaheim show. For more information, visit www.abilitiesexpo.com.
 Follow LRO On The Go
Keep up to date with LRO through its many online social networking tools! Become a member of Life Rolls On’s AYP's Facebook Page (Los Angeles and Orange County, CA) and MySpace (San Diego, CA), download the free Life Rolls On Match2Blue application for iPhones and iPod, or follow LRO on Twitter.
You can even “tweet” LRO Founder Jesse Billauer (@jessebillauer), LRO’s CEO Kris Nakamura (@LifeRollsOnCEO), LRO’s Program Director Meghan Schinderle (@LifeRollsOnPD) and get the latest news for They Will Surf Again (@TWSA_CA). Looking forward to becoming part of your “tweeps!”
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| SCI Community News |
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 Paralysis More Prevalent
A study by our colleagues at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation have found that spinal cord injury is nearly four times more prevalent than previously thought. This means that there are more than 1.2 million people in the United States with a spinal cord injury. It also makes the work of Life Rolls On even more important.
> Link to article in Wall Street Journal
> Read entire 28 page study by CDRF
 Craig Hospital Nursing Advice Hotline
Answers to non-emergency medical questions related to spinal cord injury are now just a phone call away. Through Craig Hospital’s new Spinal Cord Injury Nursing Advice Line, nurses are on stand-by Monday through Friday, between 9AM and 4PM (Mountain Time), to answer SCI-related health questions and provide educational resources for individuals with spinal cord injury and their caregivers.
Should callers have concerns about changes in quality of care, medical questions that do not require a doctor’s visit, or simply need educational materials for a new caregiver, this program can help.
To reach a nurse through the Spinal Cord Injury Nursing Advice Line, call 303-789-8508 or 800-247-0257 (toll-free).
Photo courtesy of CareFirst.com
 Using Your Brain to Twitter
Apparently you can! Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in collaboration with Scientist Gerwin Schalk and the Wadsworth Center in Albany, New York have created a Brain-Twitter interface that allows people who are immobile to use their brains to post on Twitter. Does this have implications for those with high level spinal cord injury?
> Read Article
> Follow LRO on Twitter (brain-interface not yet available)
| Just a Little More |
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 New Colors in LRO Store
Just in time for summer, we've added to the inventory of the Life Rolls On Store. Now you can also find our most popular design, "Seahawk", designed by one of the talented graphic designers at Hurley International, in Royal Blue, Ash Grey, Slate, and Light Aqua.
 We also just introduced kids tank tops in size 2, 4 and 6. These super cute tanks are in black only, also in the Seahawk style.
> Check out the LRO Store
 Gifts for Dad and Grads: The Surfer's Journal
Help LRO hit its fundraising goal and get The Surfer’s Journal for yourself, your dad or grad. The Surfer’s Journal will donate 10% of all purchases to Life Rolls On.
Sign yourself or your loved one up for The Journal, buy them a book or a sweatshirt, and help LRO grow.
For all gifts, The Surfer’s Journal will send a gift card to the recipient acknowledging the donation your order made to LRO.
About Surfer’s Journal: Now in its 18th year, The Surfer’s Journal is published six times yearly by Steve and Debbee Pezman. Support reader supported journalism and Life Rolls On at the same time!
> Use this special link
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| Final Thoughts |
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Life Rolls On thanks…
Vanessa Bonifacio, along with the photographers and individuals, who generously contributed to the completion of this newsletter.
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I Am LRO
What makes Life Rolls On so special is it is made up of so many unique stories of individuals who believe in pushing the boundaries of possibility. We hope you enjoy this new column that introduces extraordinary people who proudly demonstrate how “life rolls on” after spinal cord injury. For our premiere article, meet Alyson Roth. She may be Ms. Wheelchair California and work for Free Wheelchair Mission, but what’s most important to LRO advocate and surfer Alyson Roth is being a voice of hope for those with a spinal cord injury.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Surfers with SCI in the Northeast have Joe Levy to thank for spearheading LRO’s efforts to introduce They Will Surf Again to Long Branch, NJ. Read on to learn how a car accident inspired this Garden State resident to support individuals with SCI and how Life Rolls On, though clear across the country, became one of the charities nearest to his heart.
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Sponsor Spotlight
Chipotle is more than a restaurant - it is a way of life! Their delectable menu allows its customers to enjoy a hearty meal that is truly heart-healthy and delicious. As a corporate partner of LRO, Chipotle is doing its part to give back to the SCI community – one burrito at a time!
> More About Chipotle
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LRO Schedule
May 1: AYP LA/OC Mixer
May 3: TWSA Bolsa Chica, CA
May 16: TWSA Jacksonville Beach, FL
June 27: LRO @ Switchfoot Bro-Am Encinitas, CA
June 28: TWSA Long Branch, NJ
July 18: TWSA Zuma Beach, CA
July 25: TWSA Cocoa Beach, FL
July 23-26: LRO @ U.S. Open of Surfing Huntington Beach, CA
August 1: TWSA Virginia Beach, VA
August 8: TWSA Wrightsville Beach, NC
Sept 13: TWSA La Jolla Shores, CA
Sept 26: NJ Golf Tournament Cape May, NJ
Sept 27: TWSA Cape May, NJ
October 4: Night By The Ocean Hollywood, CA
October 10: TWSA Santa Cruz, CA
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Umbrella Sponsor
TWSA Partners
Special Thanks
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