BORP News and Resources | February 2024

BORP logo in blue and orange, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation.

Image: BORP logo in blue and orange, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation.

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From the Desk of Emily Seelenfreund

Executive Director

The BIG News around BORP this month is the official launch of our membership program. In truth, it is a kind of return to pre-COVID times when each program had its own fee structure. Now, for just $20 a month, members gain access to all standard BORP programs. It's a great deal, and way more efficient to administer.


Membership revenue will keep BORP programs resilient in a world of rising costs. But no one will ever be turned away from BORP for lack of funds. I've been part of a lot of adaptive recreation programs over the years. What has always stood out about BORP is its dedication to making sure everyone can play--regardless of disability, finances, experience level, etc. That is a part of BORP's DNA and it's not changing. Scholarships are available for anyone for whom membership would cause financial hardship. Email us to receive a 50% or 100% discount code.


This is a big step for BORP, something new. Any new system is likely to be a little bumpy at first. So please help us smooth out the bumps by emailing us with your thoughts, suggestions, and info on any bugs in the system. Together is how we roll forward. Please check it out and tell us what you think. We are excited to hear from you :) 

In Community,

Emily Seelenfreund at the 2023 Revolution Ride

Image: Emily Seelenfreund at the 2023 Revolution Ride Roll and Stroll

Meet BORP's new Board members!

On January 23rd we held our first board meeting with 8 new board members joining the team. It was a great kick-off. These folks are ready to roll and get BORP to the next level. They are:

woman who might be on a recumbent cycle, wearing a white snow hat, winter jacket, and big sunglasses and smiling broadly, with snow-covered mountains in the background.

Janhavi Bonville

Headshot of a man with brown hair, big smile, wearing a yellow-collared grey sweater in front of a plain white background.

Kiran Kaja

A man with short hair and a full beard, wearing a black shirt with white designs standing outside in front of a fence.

Kanani Medeiros

Several youth team members with light blue shirts in wheelchairs with a man in the same team shirt standing behind them. They are outside in the background is a banner, water and foothills.

Tim Orr

Bald man with big smile wearing a maroon polo shirt standing in front of exercise equipment.

Nathan Perkins

Headshot of man, also smiling, with short, parted grey hair wearing a dark grey jacket and light purple shirt (no tie) stands in front of a plain beige background.

Randy Randleman

A headshot of a smiling man with arms folded, wearing glasses, he has salt-and-pepper hair and beard, wearing a dark grey button-down shirt, standing in front of a plain light grey background

Lucas Tobin

A woman with big smile, greying blonde hair wearing a black collarless blouse stands in front of a light orange wall with a picture hanging on it.

Kathy Zonana

A screenshot of the Board section of the Who We Are page on the BORP website showing 14 members including the 8 new members.

You can see the full board with linked bios here (you have to scroll down a bit)

9 images, top row L to R: Image 1, woman who might be on a recumbent cycle, wearing a white snow hat, winter jacket, and big sunglasses and smiling broadly, with snow-covered mountains in the background, hyper-linked caption reads, "Janhavi Bonville;" Image 2, headshot of a man with brown hair, big smile, wearing a yellow-collared grey sweater in front of a plain beige background, hyper-linked caption reads, "Kiran Kaja;" Image 3, A man with short hair and a full beard, wearing a black shirt with white designs standing outside in front of a fence, hyper-linked caption reads, "Kanani Medieros." Middle row L to R Image 4, several youth team members with light blue shirts in wheelchairs with a man in the same team shirt standing behind them. They are outside in the background is a banner, water and foothills, hyper-linked caption reads, "Tim Orr;" Image 5, bald man with big smile wearing a maroon polo shirt standing in front of exercise equipment, hyper-linked caption reads, "Nathan Perkins;" Image 6, headshot of man, also smiling, with short, parted grey hair wearing a dark grey jacket and light purple shirt (no tie) stands in front of a plain beige background, hyper-linked caption reads, "Randy Randleman." Bottom row L to R, Image 7, headshot of a smiling man with arms folded, wearing glasses, he has salt-and-pepper hair and beard, wearing a dark grey button-down shirt, standing in front of a plain light grey background, hyper-linked caption reads, "Lucas Tobin;" image 8, woman with big smile, greying blonde hair wearing a black collarless blouse stands in front of a light orange wall with a picture hanging on it, hyper-linked caption reads, "Kathy Zonana," image 9 is a screenshot of the Board section of the Who We Are page on the BORP website showing 14 members including the 8 new members.

Program Updates

BORP partnered with the VA Palo Alto to host the Battle for the Bay Wheelchair Rugby Tournament (Photos on FaceBook).This was the first Wheelchair Rugby tournament in California since 2019.


Cycling winter hours are Thursday through Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Drop-in hours are back. Still some road work detours to getting there - click for more info

Development News

Thank you to Barbara and Rick Bennett who hosted our second House Party, another a lovely evening and successful fundraiser working toward BORP's next phase. The next House Part is at the home of Board member Dorene Giacopini and husband Steve Wilson in El Sobrante on February 29th, which will be the last until after the....

Photo from last year's Rev of riders gathered for the ride safety talk. Superimposed is: "Save the date for the Revolution Ride, May 12, 2024.

Image 1: Photo from last year's Rev of riders gathered for the ride safety talk. Superimposed is: "Save the date for the Revolution Ride, May 12, 2024.

Community Resources

A man holding a handmade sign that reads, "100 Miles, Great job Uncle Sam." He is surrounded by three small children and and a man and woman.

Sam Cooper, Dean of Students with OUSD, is doing some fundraising for BORP on his own for the Cocodona 250 Ultramarathon. He says, "Some of our students are big users of your program and I really believe in your mission!"


He's halfway to the $5,000 needed to earn his bib and he's organizing a walk-a-thon to get the rest of the way. Email Sam to learn more about the walk-a-thon.

Mobility International USA (MIUSA, co-founded by BORP co-founder Susan Sygall) is looking for adaptive sports ambassadors. Check out the International Exchange program run by MIUSA in partnership with NCDE, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange. Scholarship opportunities with 10 programs to check out. Email MIUSA with questions: clearinghouse@miusa.org

Challenge yourself and change the world!®

Image 1: A man holding a handmade sign that reads, "100 Miles, Great job Uncle Sam." He is surrounded by three small children and and a man and woman." Image 2: Group of people including two people in wheelchairs are sight-seeing in an old arcade with stone arches and brickwork.

BORP logo in blue and orange, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation.

BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our mission is to improve the health, independence and social integration of children, youth and adults with physical disabilities and visual impairments through sports, fitness, and recreation programs. www.borp.org

Image 1: BORP logo in blue and orange, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation. Image 2: Facebook logo. Image 3: Instagram logo. Image 4: YouTube logo. Click Social Media logos for BORP social media.

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