by Dulce Aponte
The Third Annual Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic, held in Bulova Park in Jackson Heights, New York on Wednesday, September 29, was a success despite threats of rain. The free program, sponsored by United Spinal Association and the New York City chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.msnyc.com), introduced over 50 participants to recreational and adaptive sports through clinics led by United Spinal athletes. Participants enjoyed handcycling, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball, as well as lunch and a chance to practice using the wheelchair lift on a New York City Transit (NYCT) bus.
The morning started off with an introduction from Patrick Donaghey, Program Manager from United Spinal Association’s Sports and Recreation department and Jo Ellen Zembruski-Ruple, Program Director of Recreation and Rehabilitative Services for the MS Society. Before the fun and games could begin, Marlene Goldstein led everyone in stretches and warm-up exercises to lessen the possibility of fatigue or over-stretched muscles. Goldstein is a professor at CUNY John Jay College teaching Health Education and has been a consultant with the MS Society for 15 years. This semester, she will be running the Society’s Queens Recreation Group Adult Day Program. “My greatest pleasure has been the way I can enrich the clients’ lives, but more importantly, the way that they have enriched mine,” she said.
After the warm up, the group headed off to try out handcycling, and there was a general consensus that it was a pleasurable sport. One MS Society member, Marilyn Bennett, said “I love that. I surprised myself. I haven’t ridden a bike in years. Maybe I’ll buy one, it’s so much fun.” Mrs. Bennett, a 70-year-old, had no problem enjoying the handcycle during the day. Bennett also shed some light on several of her own activities, including seated yoga classes, pool exercises, and a creative writing chatline with the MS Society. “You have to keep yourself moving,” she said.
Colleen Covington, 49, also a member of the MS Society, was on the handcycle several times. She said, “I love it. I missed it [Field Day] last year. It’s a special event. It’s important to keep active and feel good, even if you have MS.”
Others headed over to an NYCT bus parked in the lot next to Bulova Park. Early that m o rning, Russell Schmid, Outreach and Public Information Coordinator for the Paratransit Division of the NYCT in the Department of Buses, gave the group a brief overview of how to use bus lifts and Access-a-Ride. Now participants had the opportunity to use an actual bus wheelchair lift with the assistance of NYCT driver Sean Cribbin. Schmid has worked with NYCT Paratransit for 11 years, helping service the community of people with mobility disabilities.
After lunch, it was time for wheelchair basketball and tennis. Edwin Lopez, a member of the United Spinal Nets (the Association’s wheelchair basketball team co-sponsored by the New Jersey Nets) led drills in shooting and scoring. Donaghey, a member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and tournament committee chairperson of USTA’s Jana Hunsaker Memorial Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, led the wheelchair tennis clinic where participants delivered several swift serves.
“The field day is a wonderful way for people with mobility disabilities to get out there, interact and play sports. It’s probably something they don’t do on a daily basis, and it keeps their spirits up,” said Donaghey. “I myself am involved in many wheelchair sports activities, so I know first-hand how important keeping active can be.”
United Spinal, the MS Society, and the NYCT were not the only organizations present that are trying to make a difference in the lives of people with MS. The Fire Department of New York also had its representatives present. Peter Culkin, Jack Halaby, Matthew Jacoby, Mike Merolla, and Mike D’Angelo, all from Engine 226 in Brooklyn, along with Gerard Fitzgerald from Engine 318 in Coney Island, were there to help people with mobility disabilities get into the handcycles and teach them how to operate them. Though the firemen have helped Zembruski-Ruple with the MS Society’s fishing and bowling clinics, this was their first Field Day.
Felicia Mosley, Recreation Coordinator for United Spinal Association, noted the importance of clinics such as the MS Field Day. “MS Field Day is important because people with MS seem to get overlooked when it comes to disabled sports.” Mosley also said, “This event is geared directly and exclusively toward people with MS and it has proven to be a wonderful, ‘can-do’ experience for the participants.”
And with the smiles abounding in Bulova Park, the verdict was in: The clinic was successful.
Dulce Aponte is an Assistant Public Affairs Officer.
