Blogs
$2,500 Check Presentation
You may remember my June 2 blog post about the 25th Annual Gene Filippis Golf Benefit. Yesterday, as a follow up to that event, we had the privilege of meeting with Terri Miller and John Kamsickas from the West MI Wright & Filippis branch office. They presented us with a check for $2,500 raised from the event. We are honored that Wright and Filippis chose us as one of two West MI charities to recieve this donation.
After a short tour of the office we paused for a picture and the official check presentation. We would like to say thank you to Terri, John, and everyone at Wright & Filippis for helping us Move People Forward.
Matt Chapman
Marketing & Special Events Coordinator
Updated Wish List
We are always amazed at the positive response from our wish list. Items on our wish list help with the day-to-day tasks associated with giving the gift of mobility.
We are currently in need of the following items:
- Master Appliance Solder Iron UltraTorch, UT-100SI, Butane
Don't have anything on our list? Please consider making an online donation instead. A little or a lot, it is greatly appreciated. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your support!
~Matt Chapman
Director of Marketing & Special Events
Johnnie completes fourth Reeds Lake Run; GR Press picks up the story.
Johnnie Tuitel, founder of Alternatives in Motion, completed his fourth Reed’s Lake run on Saturday April 27. Instead of using crutches, EGR football coach and math teacher Brian Clay pushed Johnnie in a special stroller designed for this type of race.
Brian and Johnnie are training to run the 2009 Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon to raise money for Alternatives in Motion and myTEAM TRIUMPH. myTEAM TRIUMPH is an athletic ride-along program created for children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities who would normally not be able to experience endurance events such as triathlons or road races. The participants with disabilities are known as "Captains," and the athletes who have the honor of pushing and pulling the Captains on the course are called their "Angels."
Johnnie Tuitel to Run Reeds Lake Run
Johnnie Tuitel & Brian Clay
Press Release
June 23, 2009
Contact:
Matt Chapman
Phone: (616) 493-2620
Fax: (616) 493-2621
Email: matt@alternativesinmotion.org
George Ranville
Phone: (616) 862-8018
Fax: (616) 493-2621
Email: georan@alternativesinmotion.org
For Immediate Release
(Grand Rapids, MI) Wheelchair bound athlete and long time friend will compete together in Saturday’s Reeds Lake Run as part of training schedule for the 2009 Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon.
East Grand Rapids residents Johnnie Tuitel and Brian Clay have set an ambitious goal; raise $10,000 for charity and finish their first marathon together with Tuitel being pushed 26.2 miles in a wheelchair. Tuitel, who has cerebral palsy and has spent the majority of his life in a wheelchair, is no stranger to running. When he was younger he ran the Reeds Lake Run three times on crutches, but the feat took a toll on his body and shoulders. “I always wanted to finish a marathon, scratch it off my bucket list, but it never happened” Tuitel said.
The two friends got the idea to run a marathon after hearing about MyTeam Triumph, a local athletic ride-along program created for children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities. Together, along with friends Rence Merideth and Bill Cuppie, Tuitel and Clay finished the 25k (15.5 miles) Fifth Third River Bank Run on Saturday May 9, 2009, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:46:50. “I know that pushing Johnnie for 26 miles is going to be a difficult task for my first marathon, going 10 more miles than the River Bank Run will be tough, but I’m inspired to achieve that goal for Johnnie,” Clay said.
Tuitel is the founder of Alternatives in Motion, a local nonprofit organization that provides wheelchairs to individuals who do not qualify for other assistance, and who could not obtain such equipment without financial aid. Clay is a math teacher and assistant football coach at East Grand Rapids High School. Together the team will be training for the Grand Rapids Marathon in October and raising money for Alternatives in Motion and MyTeam Truimph. “We think this is an excellent opportunity to teach our kids the importance of giving back. We have two amazing charities that need support during these tough economic times, charities that are changing the lives of people with disabilities, it’s important we get the community behind these two organizations,” Tuitel said.
The two will be collecting pledges between now and October to support Alternatives in Motion and MyTeam Truimph. To make a donation to their efforts log onto: www.alternativesinmotion.org/marathon. Johnnie and Brian will start their 10K run at 8:45a.m. Saturday June 27, 2009 in East Grand Rapids. For more information please call Executive Director George Ranville at (616) 862-8018.
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We need manual wheelchairs!
If we had a threat level for our wheelchair inventory it would currently be red; meaning severely depleted. While our power wheelchair inventory is holding it’s own, we desperately need reliable manual wheelchairs in new or gently used condition. Over the last few months we have placed the majority of our manual wheelchairs and are currently experiencing a shortage. (We will take your power chairs too!)
~Matt Chapman
Marketing & Special Events Coordinator
