Articles from Past Events
Dance Class at Art Sports
Art Sports has been willing to set up an dance class for special needs children. The trial session ran for 4 weeks and was enjoyed by those who attended. If interested in joining the next class call CPA-638-0808 . Art Sports is wheelchair accessible. Music and movement improves the mind, body and soul. Also offered are: open gym times, floor trampolines with trapeze harness, dance classes, tumbling and preschool fitness programs. call 531-JUMP for more info
Family Bowling Fun for All
On April 10th , CPA hosted an annual family bowling day. Harmony Bowl did a wonderful job catering to our needs. There were 10 lanes reserved with most having 5 people to a lane. What a nice way to spend time as a family and meet other families, too. Strikes and spares were enjoyed by all. Ball ramps and gutter bumpers were available for those who desired. CPA provided lunch and 2 delicious cakes . Some of the members of the Adult Support Group also enjoyed the bowling and camaraderie.
Dreamnight at the Zoo
The first Friday of June every year, Zoo’s across the United States close their gates late afternoon to the public and reopen to invited special needs guest and their families. This year, 26 families from CPA, enjoyed the animals, activities, food, and a beautiful evening out with other families at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Many thanks go out to the awesome volunteers, sponsors and zoo staff for making it so special !
The 6th Annual Hope Award
The Cerebral Palsy Association of Colorado Springs held it’s “Hope Award” dinner at the Patty Jewett Clubhouse on February 19, 2010. The theme for the evening was “Hope Around the Clock”. LP records, candles and spring tulips decorated each table. Guests were able to select their favorite oldies for young disc jockey, J.P. Frith, to spin throughout the evening. The attendees enjoyed Prime Rib and Chicken Marsala in which the staff at Patty Jewett were very accommodating to every need.
The Hope Award is given to a community member who has served children who have special needs and their families and has contributed to the community at large. Dr. Edward C. Maynard of Iron Horse Pediatrics is the 2010 recipient of the Hope Award. Dr Maynard began practicing primary care pediatrics in Colorado Springs in 1993 with Dr Peter Nielsen, also a previous Hope Award winner. His background includes work in the fields of biochemistry and neonatology. Currently, Dr. Maynard serves as the chair of the Pediatric Section of Memorial Hospital for Children.
Tait Berge, current CPA Board President and a young man who has CP, welcomed guests and gave a brief history of the Cerebral Palsy Association. CPACS has been active in Colorado Springs since 1947 and a United Way Partner for 40 years. A visual power point assisted those who may not have understood his speech pattern.
Untimely and last minute cancellations of two prominent speakers left the message for the evening to the association’s Executive Director, Sara Berge. She billed herself as ‘the Board’s Last Hope’ and her message “HOPE is a Four Letter Word” spoke to the influence of Hope in all aspects of life. Ellen Steiner, parent of a child with special neurological needs, provided heartfelt personal testimony about the hope Dr. Maynard has provided for her family and her child.
The evening attended by parents, therapists, community members and friends included a silent auction with all monies raised going to provide therapy, equipment and services for children and adults with Cerebral Palsy. Among the items offered were Date Night and Overnight packages that included respite care. Pampering and Night-Out gifts, as well as an aerobatic plane ride from “Aces Up Aviation” were among the items up for bid. For more information about the mission of CPACS read on further here or call 638-0808.
Poinsettia Sales and Letters From Santa Fundraisers are a Success!
We would like to thank those who participated in our fundraiser. 
The proceeds will go toward helping fund adaptive driving lessons for a young adult to become more independent and a child in need of therapy.
You have given a very special Christmas gift to them and us!!
Poker Run for CPACS
On Sunday September 20th, we had a Poker Run for CPACS.
What's a Poker Run you might ask? It's a game that starts at one point with 4 other "card stops" along a pre-arranged route. At the first stop you would register and pay for your card tally sheet. Then you would draw your 1st card from a deck spread out on the table. Once that card has been entered on your sheet, you go to the next card stop following directions on your card tally sheet. The process of card selection is repeated at all card stops. The 5th card stop is the final and that is where your hand gets totaled to see who has the best poker hand and for an enjoyable afternoon of food, prizes and fun.
Registration was at 9:30 am at the Daylight Donut shop. There were about 31 poker players in all. Three Honda Goldwings, 2 Kawasakis, 1 Yamaha, 7 Harleys, and 4 4-wheeled vehicles. The day was fabulous for the 67 mile ride from the Daylight Donuts shop (free donuts) to Black Forest to the Spirit Keeper (free CPA pens), to the Drive In on North Weber (free Ice cream cones) to Crystola Roadhouse for (free candy) to the finish at McCabe's where everyone enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw and chocolate cake.
We met wonderful people who helped us raise $ 369.00 total. $208 was donated to CPA and the rest was distributed in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prize money. There were awesome items raffled off thanks to APEX, Rocky Mountain Cycle Plaza, American Motorcycles, Harley Davidson and the Broncos. There were door prizes galore for adults and kids alike. We even had a 13 yr old with CP who rode with his dad on his Harley and his mom rode her own chopper. Each card stop was manned by parents and kids from CPA. They enjoyed the day out and meeting the public. Everyone enjoyed the run so much that they want us to do it again next year. Since it was our first run, it took a lot of planning and work but well worth the effort to help others out.
We just might do it again! All in all it was a very enjoyable day that went very smooth. We do hope that if we do this again next year, it will be planned far enough ahead so more can participate. There were many events going on this weekend all over Colorado so we happen to choose a busy weekend.
We would like to extend a very special thank you to Sara and Tait Berge, Gary and Kenny Frith, Lynn and Alex Trinrud, Cindy Colwell, Elena Villasenor, Misty and Tyra Young, Kelli and Acineth Rundle, Brandon Smith, Jessie Thornton and Terry and Vonda Weber for the dedication and time they put into this event not to mention all of the awesome people who enjoyed the game!
Ride Safe. Ride Often!
Claude and Nancy Lockhart
Sibling Essay Contest Results and Winning Essays
The Cerebral Palsy Association of Colorado Springs would like to announce the winners of the 2009 National Siblings Day (April 10, 2009) Essay Contest. Children ages 6-18 were encouraged to write an essay describing their special relationship with a sibling. A sibling relationship can be unique when one sibling has a disability or chronic health condition. This years winners were recognized on April 6, 2009, and they were: Lauren Trinrud, Krista Ellington, and David Blackwood.
Each winner recieved a ribbon, Target Gift Card and a stuffed bear for themselves and one for their CP sibling. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO ENTERED THIS YEAR!
First Place:
Having a sibling with special needs is a very different lifestyle for most children. Alex, my brother with cerebral palsy, and I have a unique relationship. It is unique because we like to play together, do homework together, and have Friday night sleepovers in front of the TV. We spend alot of time together because Alex is always home.
Alex has a gigantic smile. His smile is like the sun coming up each morning and that is what helps me get through each day. He has lots of friends at school because of his smile and laugh.
Being a sister of a special needs brother is very different from most of the kids at my shcool. I have to take on more responsibilities. I have to run back and forth from his bedroom to our family room because when he needs stuff, I have to go get it. I have to miss more free time than most kids because I always to along to wheelchair appointments, doctor appointments, and therapy appointments. Sometimes I help with on the go stuff like buckling him into the lift van, carrying his bags, and fixing the DVD player on long trips.
I have a huge difference between my life and other kids. I know that taking on more responsibilities and playing with him are just part of my life. Without Alex I woudl never get to see a bright smile every day of the week or feel his warm love.
by Lauren Trinrud
Second Place:
Me, My Brother and Cerebral Palsy
My little brother Julian has a disability. Although he has a disability, I still consider him just like everyone else. I can still do a bunch of fun things with him. The fact that he has a disability makes him unique but not necessarily different from everybody else.
I ignore his disability and pretend it's not even there. In my eyes, it's not there. I just see him as my brother, not being labeled with "cerebral palsy" or a "disability". He can still do most things a person without a disability can do; it just takes practice and maybe some modification of doing things so that he can do them. Other people might make fun of thim or say he's un-cool, but I don't care. To me, he is the coolest boy ever and I love him very much! He is my little brother and I don't care what anybody says about him!
I try to help him overcome his disability by practicing standing and walking. His disability causes him to be wobbly and walk slow, but that's okay, I still love him just the same! Sometimes he falls too. I feel bad when he falls.
My relationship with my brother is very strong. I practice walking with him every day and hope that one day he can overcome his disability. I never loose hope or faith in my brother!
by Krista Ellington
Honorable Mention:
Hi, my name is David and we're going to talk about my brother Eric and how Cerebral Palsy affects him. Eric cannot talk without a special speaking device, his ECO, and he uses a wheelchair to get around. We sometimes get along and agree on what we will do like play on the computer game World of Warcraft and play Lego Star Wars for I Mac.
Sometimes we don't agree and he makes me mad and I make him mad. But we both go skiing. Eric sits in a sit ski, and I stand up and ski. When it's time for dessert I can feed him dessert. I can help other people understand Eric. I like most about my brother is that he can talk to me with his device.
by David Blackwood
Watch for the article in the Gazette Kids Page!
We will be holding this again next year for National Sibling Day so keep a watch out for it next March.
Read an excellent article: "I'm special too! Siblings of special needs children." on our literature page.
Marathon Fundraiser Success
Kenny and I would like to personally thank everyone who supported us in this most challenging event that turned out unbelievable.
We had such a great race! Special thanks to Bill Reed of our local paper for printing such a great article of our 'journey' - you can see it on our News Page.
We completed the marathon in 4 hours 11 minutes and placed 118th out of 367 marathoners. Elizabeth Grimes, Kenny's cousin, who ran with us (and helped push!) even won her age group and set a new record for that age group (Women's First Place, under 19 years old).
It was such a great day - the best part was Kenny kept bugging us for his medal the last 4 miles and Lauren was about to go nuts with his persistence - at the finish he got his prize and just wouldn't let it go.
As of last night at the CP Assn meeting, we have raised over $11,500 !!!! and donations are still trickling in. I can't say thank you enough to all the donors who made this fundraiser such a success - it surely motivated us to 'fly' down the hill so to speak. 
And the neatest part is every cent will go towards helping a child with Cerebral Palsy.
Thank You Donors for making a difference in their lives!!!
Gary & Kenny Frith
'26 for the Kids"
Mother's Coffee a Success
Watch for our next Mother's Coffee around Mother's Day.
On December 3rd, we held a Mother's Coffee here at the office. There were 8 Mother's who attended and enjoyed a variety of cookies and beverages. We had two new Mother's and one Father, which were able to meet, chat with, and collect some insight from some of the other Mother's who have " been there, done that".
All the Mother's had a chance to look over and choose from the "Gift in Kind" items that were given to us by Bed, Bath and Beyond and Kids Pottery Barn. There are still items left for the choosing, so stop by and see what's here!
We will hold another Mother's Coffee in May so whatch for the invites via email or regular mail. Also whatch for info about a Winter Family event in Feb or March. These events are what keep us all connnected and the experience each one of us have with our children can prove to be a benefit for all.
Strikes by all... 
CPA families bowled a few gutterballs, spares and strikes on Saturday, March 14th at Harmony Bowl.
Children and Adults shared smiles and stories over a meal of
grilled cheese sandwiches and cake.
Harmony Bowl provided the CPA with
excellent customer service and access for all the lanes. Many of those in attendance enjoyed spending some fun family time together. Look for more family CPA activities to come and join us!! A Big Thanks to Gary Frith for coordinating the family bowling.
by Lynn Trinrud
CPA Family Picnic '09
The Cerebral Palsy Association of Colorado Springs
celebrated summer with a Family Picnic on August 1, 2009. 
Families gathered at Deerfield Hills Community Center.
It was a perfect day to indulge in hamburgers and hot dogs grilled by the Firefighters from Station #11. 
Besides being grill-masters they brought a fire truck for children and families to explore. 
Hopefully all families were reminded how important it is to have a safety plan in place for letting emergency personnel know there is a family member with special needs in the home. 
The Deerfield Hills spray park was open for those wishing to cool off or just to enjoy watching the thrills and chills of those brave enough to get wet.
Plenty of other activities were available for all. Children enjoyed games and prizes, while adults visited and exchanged knowledge and ideas.
Everyone found a variety of food to enjoy as families brought a dish to share. Great door prizes and dancing ended a fun get together.
Articles from 2008
2008 CPA Family Picnic
The picnic this year was a huge success. Thanks to all the staff and board members that put it on! There were 67 attendees out of 76 which RSVP’d. The day was a beautiful, sunny, warm, beginning of Fall day, on September 28th.
The original picnic day planned on Aug 16th at Memorial Park was rained out so it was decided to cancel then reschedule for a later date. The new date for the picnic proved to be a much nicer time weather-wise although we were more prepared.
It was held at Deerfield Hills Community Center and Park (indoor/outdoor). This location worked out great for wheels and for ones who did not want to eat outside under the pavilion. The kids enjoyed the playground as well.
Beverage was provided by McDonald’s via Gary, BBQ pulled pork from Bird Dog BBQ via Colleen and Sara, and plenty of side dishes brought by Sara, Nancy, Lilah to fill everyone’s tummies.
After everyone ate, Dan Schwieder, from Special Recreation of CSPR and Para Olympics, spoke about their program to get kids and adults involved in these sports and activities. They work with a variety of ages, special needs and abilities.
Then the games began! Beth and crew kept some kids busy with cookie decorating (and eating) while her husband and crew ran the Fishing game. There was a “Golf Ball in a Spoon” race and Door Prize drawings as well.
Wells Fargo gave CPA a grant to purchase a Rifton Ranger Tricycle for the loan closet and we received that just in time for the picnic. Kids (and older kids, ha) got to try it out on all the sidewalks there were. Tait and Kenny even took it for a spin! Lindsey and baby helped adjust and secure everyone in the trike. Rachel will be the first on the list to check the trike out of the loan closet.