Media Advisory Lose The Training Wheels Bike Camp This Week

WHAT:Lose the Training Wheels Bike Camp co-sponsored by Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio  WHEN:Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 20, 2008* 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.*Best media opportunities are Wednesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 19 as many children will be transitioning from roller bikes to two-wheeled bicycles   WHERE:  The Ohio State UniversityRecreation and Physical Activity Center (North Gym)Building 246337 W. 17th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Lose the Training Wheels is a training program that teaches children with disabilities how to transition from a bike with training wheels to independence on a standard bike. This year marks the first time the national program, in existence for approximately 10 years, has traveled to Columbus. Forty children and young adults, 7-20-years-old, will participate in a week-long camp that helps them learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. Most of the camp participants are current and former patients from Nationwide Childrens Hospital and are eager to learn the ins and outs of bike riding.Dr. Richard E. Klein, an engineer from Illinois and creator of Lose the Training Wheels, travels with his staff every summer to conduct camps across the nation.  With a proper environment and training with adapted bikes, children who are disabled are taught how to ride and transition to a conventional bike within a five-day period. To learn more information about the Lose the Training Wheels program, visit www.losethetrainingwheels.org. CONTACT PRIOR TO EVENT: Erin Pope / Mary Ellen FiorinoNationwide Childrens Hospital Marketing and Public Relations(614) 355-0495 CONTACT AT EVENT:Michelle ByarsNationwide Childrens HospitalOTPT Program Manager(614) 719-9536

WHAT:Lose the Training Wheels Bike Camp co-sponsored by Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio  WHEN:Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 20, 2008* 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.*Best media opportunities are Wednesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 19 as many children will be transitioning from roller bikes to two-wheeled bicycles   WHERE:  The Ohio State UniversityRecreation and Physical Activity Center (North Gym)Building 246337 W. 17th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Lose the Training Wheels is a training program that teaches children with disabilities how to transition from a bike with training wheels to independence on a standard bike. This year marks the first time the national program, in existence for approximately 10 years, has traveled to Columbus. Forty children and young adults, 7-20-years-old, will participate in a week-long camp that helps them learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. Most of the camp participants are current and former patients from Nationwide Childrens Hospital and are eager to learn the ins and outs of bike riding.Dr. Richard E. Klein, an engineer from Illinois and creator of Lose the Training Wheels, travels with his staff every summer to conduct camps across the nation.  With a proper environment and training with adapted bikes, children who are disabled are taught how to ride and transition to a conventional bike within a five-day period. To learn more information about the Lose the Training Wheels program, visit www.losethetrainingwheels.org.

CONTACT PRIOR TO EVENT: Erin Pope / Mary Ellen FiorinoNationwide Childrens Hospital Marketing and Public Relations(614) 355-0495

CONTACT AT EVENT:Michelle ByarsNationwide Childrens HospitalOTPT Program Manager(614) 719-9536