Blueclaws & Bikes

New Jersey baseball fans were in for a treat at the June 14 Lakewood Blueclaws game.  SGT Jason Simms Sr. received a handcycle as part of the game’s events, gifted by the Lt. Dennis Zilinski Foundation Memorial Fund. 

Jason served in the Marine Corps for 9 years as a member of the 2^nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Delta Company.  After being stationed in Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, California, and North Carolina, Jason deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in February of 2004. He was assigned as a gunner and partook in numerous combat patrols.  An extremely dedicated Marine, he received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Combat “V” for Valor during this time.

On July 1, 2004, Jason’s platoon set out on a routine patrol. However, this round turned out to be far from routine. Jason was hit by an IED and suffered severe burns to his hands, face, and head, while also enduring shrapnel and bullet wounds that severed all tendons and arteries in his right leg.  He has since had 23 surgeries throughout his recovery process.  Medically retired from the Marines in April of 2008, Jason now works for the Department of the Navy within the Wounded Warrior Program, helping to place wounded in federal jobs following their time in the service.

Returning to an active lifestyle, Jason could greatly benefit from a handcycle – Team Hope For The Warriors® willingly accepted to fulfill the need.  Team Hope For The Warriors® and the Lt. Dennis Zilinski Memorial Fund partnered in coordinating the construction and funding of the Freedom Ryder handcycle, which was then presented to Jason at the Blueclaws game.  A ceremony was held before the game to recognize Jason, who was then honored to throw the first pitch. Jason’s wife, Alana, and son, Dylan, joined him for the event.

Jason, Alana, and Dylan

Jason’s awards include:

Purple Heart

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V”

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Combat Action Ribbon  

Navy Unit Citation

Meritorious Unit Citation

Good Conduct Medal 

National Defense Medal

Iraqi Campaign Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

3 Sea Service Deployment Ribbons

4 Certificates of Commendation

2 Meritorious Mast’s

Marine of the Quarter in 1998 and 1999

 

Team Hope For The Warriors® is honored to touch such a deserving Marine! Thank you SGT Jason Simms Sr. for your service.

Team Training Tips for Success!

Be in touch with your personal health and fitness!

It’s extremely important to know what, if any, precautions you must take to maintain a healthy mind and body both before starting and during any fitness routine.

Push your limits, but not to any unhealthy point!  Especially for endurance sports like running, following a training plan in accordance to your fitness level can help avoid injury and other undesirable problems.

Here are links to a few of our favorite training plans, specifically for half and full marathons: 

www.halhigdon.com
www.jeffgalloway.com 
www.marathonrookie.com 
www.marathon-training-tips.com

These are just a few- a wide variety of schedules are out there.  We also suggest the training schedule of the DC Road Runner’s included in your Team kit.

As we all know, fitness and nutrition go hand in hand.  As you train for these great events, be sure to maintain a healthy diet.

Include a wide variety of foods from all food groups.

Fuel before, during and after exercise.

A favorite mantra- everything in moderation!

Don't be Homer!

Hydration, Hydration, Hydration!

Cold weather, hot weather, windy, rainy, you name it- consuming fluids is crucial.

As days get hotter and training sessions longer, drinking fluids with electrolytes is an excellent idea to replenish depleted salt and energy stores.

A word of caution:  too much water can also be a bad thing.  Maintaining the proper proportion of sodium to water in the body is key.

Endless hydration :)

Make use of recovery days!

Recovery days are critical for allowing your body to rebuild damaged muscle tissue and rejuvenate from hard training.

One or two days of rest per week are ideal.

This will also help prevent chronic soreness and injuries.

Rockin' the American Odyssey Relay 2012

Thursday, April 26, 1:00 pm…the Team is packed and ready to head to Gettysburg from the Hope For The Warriors® office in VA.  Our 12 person team was less than 24 hours from beginning the American Odyssey Relay, the 200-mile trek from Gettysburg, PA to the waterfront in downtown Washington, DC.  We were just one of over 100 teams to be racing, and one of three charity partners: Hope Connections for Cancer, Team Red, White & Blue, and Hope For The Warriors®.  We all know pictures speak a thousand words, so here’s a photo journey of the American Odyssey Relay 2012.

The Team enjoyed a dinner hosted by the event organizers on Thursday evening, followed by a pre-race meeting.  Here’s our Team, donating even more back! 

They're AWESOME!

And Jenlene gave us a personal pre-race brief – we’re stoked!

We were scheduled the very first start time: 7:00 AM. But you know what, we were so excited and ready to get moving, we were happy with that! 

Bright and early!

Andddd we’re off. Over the hills…

Amy Shioji = rock star

Through the countryside….

Alain Jones, striding it out

Through the night…

David Carter's got this!

To the waterfront! Here we are, waiting for our final runner, Lauren.  Getting silly after more than 24 hours of no sleep and running…what do you expect?!

Anddd we’re done, bringing it in.

Final runner, Lauren Lamb, bringing us in!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

A huge shout out to:

Alain Jones, Laura DeFraia-Colee, Dave Hickey, Amy Shioji, David Carter, Susanna McDonald, William Davis, Cory Murphy, Daryl Grassel, and Lauren Lamb --- you ROCK! 

Feel free to check out all of the AOR photos, courtesy of Paul Oberle

A Father's Day Swim, Bike, Run

Triathletes?!  Triathletes.  We know you’re out there, whether you know you’re a triathlete or not!  Celebrate Father’s Day this year at Bay Shore Marina Park, NY, by participating in the TrIslip Super Sprint triathlon!  This is the second year Hope For The Warriors® has been the beneficiary of this triathlon – let’s do our part and have an awesome Team representation out there!  

The Super Sprint distance consists of a 300 M (.19 miles) swim, a 10 KM (6.2 miles) bike, and 4 KM (2.5 miles) run. The swim will be along the shore of the Great South Bay. The bike follows with a flat course through downtown Bay Shore.  Road, time trial, mountain, hybrid, and beach cruiser bikes are allowed on the course.  Lastly, the run will be a flat, beautiful route along the water in the Marina and a short out and back in the neighborhood to finish back at the Marina.  Awards will be given to the top three of each registration category. And, for the first year, the race is hosting the NY Metro Area/Long Island High School Championships! 

John Masters & Manny Jimenez - TrIslip 2011

ALL registration proceeds and any donations above that will directly benefit our combat wounded service members and their families. Make a day out of it at the Bay Shore Marina Park – swim, bike, and run for the country!! Check out the TrIslip webpage for more information and to register. 

Cpl Christopher G. Sherer Memorial Run/Walk

Calling all NYC area runners – are you looking for an event to run over Memorial Day weekend? Head out to East Newport for the 5^th Annual Cpl Christopher G. Sherer Memorial Run/Walk on Saturday, May 26.   This memorial “I Did the Grid” event offers a 4-mile run, 1-mile fun run, and 4-mile run/walk – fit for any and all to join!  

Now, this isn’t your average memorial run.  All participants are asked to relinquish personal prizes and instead run with the names of four fallen warriors on their bibs. At the end of the race, each finisher will ring the final call bell for each name on his or her bib, signifying that they will not be forgotten.

We are asking for our NY area Team members to please head to East Hampton for this perfectly fitting Memorial Day event.  For more information or to register, please visit www.cplchris.com.   

First Run For The Warriors® of 2012

Check it out - your first opportunity of 2012 to participate in our very own Run For The Warriors® series!  The streets of Secaucus, NJ will be flowing with runners supporting Hope For The Warriors® on Sunday, May 6 for the Second Annual Harmon Meadow Run For The Warriors® 5K.  Yes, it was that popular last year that we just had to run it again ;) Located just northeast of Newark and Jersey City and west of NYC, we hope too see all Jersey and NY runners there!

Registration is just $30 right up until race day, when it will be $40 to participate.  All proceeds – yes, ALL! – will benefit Hope For The Warriors® in assisting combat wounded service members and their families.

The 5K and 1-mile run/walk will begin and end at the Harmon Meadow Plaza Courtyard - 700 Plaza Drive in Secaucus.  Registration and packet pick up is from 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.; the opening ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K race begins at 9 a.m. The 1-mile run begins at 9:05 a.m. An awards ceremony will follow at 10 a.m.

"As our troops are coming home from the Middle East, we have much to celebrate with the many veterans that call Secaucus home," says Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli.  "The second annual Harmon Meadow Run for the Warriors® is a great opportunity for us to show them how much we appreciate their service to our country."

Last year’s Harmon Meadow Run For The Warriors raised more than $50,000 which was used towards ten Hope For The Warriors® Programs right in Secaucus and surrounding towns.  WOW! Register today to make this year even bigger and better – let’s see just how amazing we can make it :)

"America is a place where a small family-owned pet food company can thrive and find success, " says Emanuel Stern, President and COO of Hartz Mountain Industries, this year’s presenting sponsor. "We know that the sacrifices service members make everyday have made this possible, and we encourage the community to join us in supporting the Harmon Meadow Run For The Warriors®."

“We are excited to return to the supportive community of Secaucus,” Tina Atherall, Hope For The Warriors® Executive Vice President said.  “The Town of Secaucus and Hartz Mountain Industries have granted a great deal of support to honor the sacrifices for our nation’s wounded and fallen heroes.”

Questions?  Josh, Run For The Warriors® Coordinator, would love to hear from you! 

San Francisco Sailing

Love the water?? Interested in giving sailing a try or mastering your skills?  The Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors, BAADS, and Team Hope For The Warriors® will be holding a 3-day sailing clinic at South Beach Harbor in San Francisco, April 18-20.  Ronnie Simpson, a wounded veteran sailing aficionado, will be the event’s host.  Ronnie hopes to mentor 10 wounded at the clinic and extends the invite to any and all, no matter the injury, visible or not, and regardless of sailing ability.  Sailing is a sport that can be adapted for all!

Ronnie, your sailing host

Here’s a tentative itinerary for the clinic:

Tuesday, April 17: Arrive in San Francisco, check into hotel

Wednesday, April 18: Breakfast in the city with volunteer staff and participants. Next, an introduction to the boats, sizing up of equipment and boat set-up. We will be sailing on the water during the afternoon. Dinner will be at the Java House restaurant, located next to the harbor. After dinner, we will be going to a San Francisco Giants baseball game.

Thursday, April 19: Day 2 of sailing. With a 1:1 volunteer to veteran ratio, there is plenty of freedom to progress at an individual rate. Thursday afternoon and evening, we will take a 2-4 hour sunset cruise on the 84-foot steel schooner Bay Lady, which will take us to the Golden Gate Bridge and back. Dinner will follow the cruise.

Friday, April 20: Day 3 of sailing.  We’ll be practicing team-building exercises and practice races. Friday evening, there is a race being held at the local yacht club with several race boats available for our use. There will be an after party at the Yacht Club with dinner, drinks, awards and fellowship.

Out on the water!

What a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the Cali coast and learn some new skills!  The clinic is coming right up – if you are interested or know of anybody that may wish to attend, please do let us know soon :-) We’d love to share this opportunity with as many as possible.

Please contact Jenlene for more information.