Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Oct. 15, 2009, edition 1 / Page 2
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Able-bodied people walk in the shoes of those with disabilities m LAW.AhARMKR i in CHWaqpi i & Omaha, Neb. -native Brent R^sinussen, 32. never imag ined he'd be a paralympic ath lete. but a horrific accident in 2002 changed everything for ihe mortgage broker. Rasntussen say s he was trying to help a motorist who had lost control of her Car and skidded off the road one snowy day hen another car struck him. ripping off Ins left leg and severely damaging his right. "1 went back to the vehicle and boom!' My life changed completely." he related, "...as 1 laid in the ditch for half an hour. I thanked God I had lite ? insurance, because, 1 wasn't sure T was going Unmake it." Yel Rasmussen has turned tragedy into triumph, compet ing on the international level as captaii) of the IKS. Men's Sit Volleyball Team. -Looking back at" photographs of the accident months later. Rasmussen noticed that the mile marker where the acci dent occurred was number 422 - the same as his birth date. "I realized this happened to me for a reason " he said. "This happened to me so . I could go out and do bigger and better things." . Rasmussen shared his story, with a group of more than 300 Al legacy employees Monday, as part of an initia tive known 4s the ParaLyrnpic Experience, which tries to help able-bodied people to experience life as a person with a disability, if only for a few minutes. The Experience is spon sored by The Hartford, a noted investment firm. The compa ny is the founding sponsor of the Paralympics. a competi tion amongst world class ath letes who happen to have physical disabilities . "The ability philosophy is ? Photo by Megan Smo??? Employees try to play volleyball as a paralympic would. the bedrock of our company," said John Carideo. assistant director of , Brand Development and Program Management for The Hartford. "Let's concentrate on what an individual can do. as opposed to what he or she can't do." In the Paralymics. which are held every four years in the same cities- that host the Olympic Games, athletes compete in a variety of sports, from boccia, to cycling, equestrian and swimming, among other things. Modifications are made to the sports to make them possible for people w ith disabilities. Allegacy employees tried their hands at sitting volley ball and wheelchair sprints Monday, as part of the experi ence. "It was hard," admitted Allegacy Relationship Manager Napoleon p Brent Rasmussen speaks to Allegacy employees. Richardson, who took part in both events. "It's a little more difficult than it looks." The experience -has given him a new respect for people with disabilities. Richardson added. "I've always tried to treat Napoleon Richardson people the same regardless (of their abilities).," he said. "But now I have a greater apprecia tion tor it." The Experience is part of a growing commitment _ the credit union is makiog to improve the health of its employees under its new All Health initiative, explained Ashley Kohlrus. director of Learning and Organizational Development. The employees took well to the program, she added. "1 think it's been phenom enal," Kohlrus said. "Our employees have been extremely receptive." The point of the experi ence is to teach people that those with disabilities are * capable of virtually anything their able bodied counterparts can do. and to give.tfiem hope should they ever find them selves in a; similar situation. Caridco said. "It's important for able bodied people to understand that if they do become dis abled. their life isn't over." he remarked. "You can still ... live an active, normal and pro ductive life." For more information about the Parahmics, visit wwwMSparalympics .org. - Hanesbrands holding another fundraising sale SPECIAL TO 7 HE CHRONICLE Haneshrands Inc. will hold a second community product sale on Saturday. (Xt. 17, to raise money for the United Way and one of its meniher agencies. The sale w ill he held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking iw at West F o r s y t h H i g School , .17 3 5 LewisviUe Clemmons Road in t'lcmmonv /,ra*" An early : October sale at Hanesbrands' Weeks plant drew more than 5. (MX) shoppers and .raised $186 XXX) for the United Way. Past community sales have been so successful that Hanesbrands [decided to add the second sale in Clemmons. All proceeds will be shared by United Way and the YMCA of Northwest N.C.. a United Way agency. "We are extremely grateful for the huge support that Hanesbrands provides to United Way - and for the creative way they go about raising money through the community product sale. Not only do they donate all these wonderful products, but their employees also donate their time to make these events a big success each year," said Ron Drago, president and CEO, United Way of Forsyth County. Hanesbrands will donate more than six tractor-trailer loads of apparel , and more than mxi volunteers from the YMCA. West Forsyth High School, United Way and Hanesbrands will donate their time before, during and after the sale. - The sale will feature prod ucts from the company's top brands, including Hanes, Champion, Playtex. Bali, Just My Size, L'eggs and Outer Banks. Most apparel is priced between '50 cents and $8 and includes bras, panties, hosiery, tights, socks, sweatshirts and sport shirts. ? ? ^ ? ?" ?? . GOr Winston-Salem Symphony ' ^ Robert Mood/, Music Director iVs 2009-2010 Season The Four Seasons Danielle Belen & Corine Brouwer, violins Danielle Belen, Winner 2008 Sphinx Competition [ Corine Brouwer, Concertmaster Winston-Salem Symphony VIVALDI The Four Seasons PIAZZOLLA The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires Kicked-Back Classics Series Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Classics Series Sunday, October 1 8, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Otcober 20, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Stevens Center of the UNC School of the Arts Tickets $ 1 5 -$55 ? Student Rush $6 336-464-0145 www.wssymphony.org I VV'M IHJVIA fomthV c*i*j3K? A V*dU Fwyo Company fiyd years M??dy mi ^ ? win ' ??/OKA** A ONE-WOMAN SHOW STARRING KIM BROCKINGTON Actress Kim Brockington brings Zoro Neole Hurston to life in this one-woman show. Forsyth County's Big Read community read project will culminate in two performances at the Arts Council Theatre. Hosted by North Carolina Black Repertory Company. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 AT 7:00 Ml. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 AT 3t00 I TICKETS: Adults Students (Mired (under 12) Si 2.00 $8.00 $5.00 Coll 723-2266 to reserve tickets. ARTS COUNCIL THEATRE 610 COLISEUM DRIVE "TEA CAKE ON SUNDAYS" featuring. 10911 MIACHAM ond foklorist, logie Meochom brings Jonie's third husbond, Tea Coke, ? to life ond celebrates their transcendent relationship in the Florida Everglades. OCTOilt It A! 3:00 P.M. ST. PHILLIPS, OLD SALEM [W, ? to life ond iliilJMIJBI ?aaaaft^v - SPONSORED BY WAKK Rmsi VMdlllM 1 WMkltptWilMM, UJUI^ 55233SB33
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Oct. 15, 2009, edition 1
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