From Aerial Gilbert:
As many of you know my two greatest passions are rowing and Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB). One of my favorite rowing regattas is in Boston, the Head of the Charles Regatta. I have had the privilege to compete at the Head of the Charles for the past five years, and this year I am combining my two passions and dedicating this year’s race to raise funds for Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA (www.perkins.org). I am competing with the Marin Rowing Association in the Women’s Masters Four.
October 8, 2008
As many of you know my two greatest passions are rowing and Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB). One of my favorite rowing regattas is in Boston, the Head of the Charles Regatta. I have had the privilege to compete at the Head of the Charles for the past five years, and this year I am combining my two passions and dedicating this year’s race to raise funds for Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA (www.perkins.org). I am competing with the Marin Rowing Association in the Women’s Masters Four.
Last year I was thrilled to get to visit Perkins as part of my outreach efforts for GDB, and spoke to their students and introduced many of them to the rowing machines. I was so impressed by their efforts to encourage sports and athletics to all their students that I want to help raise funds for their sports programs.
Please support my row this year at the Head of the Charles Regatta on October 18-19th for sports at Perkins School for the Blind. Below you will find information about Perkins:
Perkins is America’s first school for the blind, established in 1829, and the alma mater of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Every year Perkins profoundly impacts the lives of over 90,000 children, and their families, in 63 countries and 260 schools around the world. Over 200 students from preschool to high school are educated daily on the campus and community programs reach almost 500 babies and 700 elders. Teachers and leaders come from all corners of the earth to learn how to transform the lives of those that are visually impaired to enable the greatest possible independence.
At Perkins mobility training and sports are an integral part of each student’s curriculum. The physical education program is designed to accommodate the skills and abilities of each and every student. The emphasis is on what each student can do, not on what they cannot do. Self-confidence, teamwork, commitment, social skills and competitiveness are emphasized as are health and wellness, lifetime fitness and the pleasure of learning new skills.
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As one parent said, “Perkins staff gave our son a gift that no one can ever take away from him, the gift of participation in a sport like other kids. They taught him that working hard and practicing for something, no matter what it is, pays off.”
Perkins educational philosophy is that physical education must be a component of every student’s total education. On campus, in outreach programs for students from public schools and in international programs in more than 63 countries, physical education is incorporated into teaching.
To support my efforts, you can make an online gift by clicking on the link below:
http://www.perkins.org/give/ways/aerialgilbert.html
You can also send a check to Perkins at:
Perkins School for the Blind
Attn: Emily Goodman
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Checks can be made payable to Perkins School for the Blind.
My bio on the Guide Dogs for the Blind web site: http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=about_people_staffvol_bios_agilbert
Information on the 44th Annual Head of the Charles Regatta: http://www.hocr.org/home/default.asp
Thank you for supporting my efforts to encourage health and fitness for the blind and visually impaired.
Warm regards,
Aerial Gilbert and Splash
http://www.marinrowing.org/article.php?story=20081013131440133