Lose The Training Wheels

A couple weeks ago the DSAGSL sponsored it third annual Lose The Training Wheels Bike camp, or as I call it LTTW.  LTTW is an amazing program that teaches kids (and adults) with developmental disabilities how to ride a typical bike.  This might not sound amazing to those of you who do not have a child, relative, neighbor or friend with a disability, so let me tell you a quick story.

This year Janet, a young woman with a disability, attended our LTTW camp.  The camp started on Monday and consisted of five sessions.  Each session had eight riders and lasted for 75 minutes each day.  On Thursday, day four of the camp,  Janet was out in the parking lot, riding a bike around completely independent.  Her mother and sister simply sat on the grass in awe saying, “We have to get her father here tomorrow to see this.”  I was talking with mom about Janet learning to ride a typical two wheel bike.  I found out that Their family likes to ride on vacation and often visits Mackinaw Island for summer vacations.  (NOTE: Automobiles are not allowed on the island.  The only methods of transportation are horse and buggy, bicycle or foot.)  Janet has always had to ride on a tandem with her dad, but not this year!  So I asked how long they have been working with Janet, trying to teach her how to ride a two wheeler.  “Since she was about five.” was her mother’s reply.

“And how old is she now?”

“Seventeen.”

I almost cried myself.  Janet has been working for the past twelve years to learn how to ride a bike by herself and the LTTW program taught her how in four days!  Less than five hours of practice, AMAZZING!

That is just one of the very typical stories I have heard over the past three years the DSAGSL has sponsored a LTTW camp.

Everyone that I talk to has the same question, “How?”  I don’t really know all of the science behind it, but I will tell you the basics.  The riders learn to find their balance by riding a highly modified bike that offers a ton of stability in the beginning.  The back wheel is replaced by a roller that keeps the bike stable.  As the rider practices and their body figures out the balance the rear roller that starts out pretty flat is replaced by a roller that is a little more tapered on the ends, and offers a little less stability.  As the rider gets better, the rollers become more and more tapered.  The next thing you know they are on a two wheeler and able to ride.

For more information, visit the LTTW website.  To view a lot more photos that take you through the progression of the week, visit the DSAGSL’s Smugmug site.

Buddy Walk – St. Louis 2008

I finally got around to uploading the few photos I have from the 2008 St. Louis Buddy Walk.  The Walk itself was a great event and wonderfully successful!  Just under 3,000 people came out on a hot Sunday morning to walk and celebrate Down syndrome.

Olivia and Mia took a break at the rest station sponsored by The Bed Room Store and tried to inflate some balloons.

I love this baby carrier.  Can you see the little feet sticking out?

To see the rest of my photos, look at photos tagged with BuddyWalk on my Flickr page.  To see a ton more photos from the event, look at the DSAGSL’s Smugmug site.

Barnes Family Party

Jennifer, the girls and I were lucky enough to be invited to the annual Barnes Family Memorial Day Party. What a great time we had. There was an appetizer contest, enough food to feed a small army (amazing ribs!), a jazz band, dancing to go along with the band, and bingo. Plus, some of the nicest people ever. I made a number of photographs, just head over to Events on my Smugmug page.

DSAGSL Family Picnic

Not much to say, except that Mia and I went to the DSAGSL family picnic this past Saturday.  The weather was great, although a little windy, and it looked like everyone had a wonderful time.  As always, there was dancing, carnival games, a blow-up bounce house that had an attached slide (way cool), a jump rope team, great hotdogs (provided by the Florissant KofC), popcorn, snow cones, Rams Cheerleaders, a face painting clown, and most importantly some of the greatest people in and around St. Louis.

To see a few more photos go to the DSAGSL SmugMug site.

Chef Jeff???

No, I do not think of myself as a chef, but for Mother’s Day we were celebrating with my wife, Jennifer, and her mother. As is typical I was outside grilling and decided to put on the chef’s coat that Jason Sparks so kindly gave to me. He is a chef instructor at L’Ecole Culinaire and it is one of his old coats. I wore the coat just to be a little silly, but also because it is nice to not worry about getting something on your clothes when cooking. So I just may wear it more often.
For the story on why Jason (a.k.a. Chef) gave me the coat, give me some time to post about Olivia’s girl scout troop’s Mother’s Day Brunch at L’Ecole Culinaire.

I apologize for the quality of the photo, but it is the best I could do with my Blackberry. It is good enough for you to see that we were having pork tenderloin, corn on the cob and asparagus. It all turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Not up to the standards of the chef’s coat I was wearing, but good enough for the Pomrankas.

Support the Down Syndrome Association

You might have noticed the new widget on the right side of this page. I have just set up my team (Pomranka’s Paparazzi) and fundraising page for the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis (DSAGSL) 2008 Buddy Walk. I hope you will take a moment to go there and donate at least a small amount.

As yo may or may not know, their are three types of Down syndrome with the most common one being Trysomy 21. It is the triplication of the 21st chromosome. Typically there are two copies of each chromosome, in Down syndrome the 21st gets an extra. Some might see this as less than positive, I think the diversity should be celebrated. Therefore, I have decided to ask for all donations on my team’s page to be a multiple of $3.21. I have even put up a nice little table to help you figure the right amount for you.

So, click here and donate to the DSAGSL! Thanks!