Purpose
The "Rise Above Tour" and its message "Power of Possibility" is an athletic promotional campaign, raising awareness and funds for C.O.R.E. Inc (Center Of Rehabilitative Exercise) a state of the art ongoing therapeutic exercise facility. C.O.R.E. promotes the absolute necessity and benefits of ongoing therapeutic exercise after sustaining a debilitating injury or suffering a chronic illness. Aaron Baker (a recovering quadriplegic) and his mother Laquita Conway will be riding bicycles across the country, "TransAmerica Trail" beginning in
San Francisco, CA and ending in Washington DC covering 4,200 miles. Aaron and Laquita are scheduled to present his "Process of Recovery", and her "Perspective" as a mother, as well as providing resource information (various foundation alignments, each with different offerings) to individuals, family members and friends at many different VA and acute
rehabilitation hospitals, therapy centers, and various other venues all along the tour route.
Narrative
Rendered quadriplegic 9 years ago, after a motocross testing accident, former Amateur National Champion Aaron Baker, knew immediately while lying motionless in the dirt, that he was destined to have a far greater purpose than winning trophies aboard a motorcycle. The initial prognosis was that he had a" one in a million" chance of ever regaining any type of function from below the neck. Aaron, his family and Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Taylor-Kevin Isaacs chose to focus on the "one" instead of the "million". With continued,
unimpeded consistency and dedication toward his recovery program, he is now able to do things most thought impossible. It is his desire to share his process, give hope and
inspiration to those without, encourage people to challenge their condition no matter how severe, ultimately improving the quality of their life.
Through this process, Aaron's vision of helping others became a reality through the creation of the "Rise Above Tour". The Rise Above Tour is a continuous tour of extreme athletic endeavors that incorporates Aaron, Laquita, and a team of like-minded individuals. We aim to get people's attention, as that attention can bring about change. Change in the way catastrophic injury is treated and managed. Change in perceptions regarding disability itself. We endeavor to bring awareness to the necessity of wellness and how it relates to living with and managing a chronic condition.
Aaron completed last years 3,182 mile Rise Above Tour on the back seat of a tandem bicycle, which marked him as the first ever recovering quadriplegic to pedal a tandem bicycle across the country. With his progress of function continuing to improve, he had a "trike" custom built. He is now riding independently again, pedaling his legs under his own power for the first time in 9 years. This too is part of this year's tour - the Progression! This year the tour will see different cycling groups riding along with them in various parts of the country, including hand-cycling clubs and professional cycling teams. All of these opportunities serve to strengthen the visibility of the mission. They ride for those who can't; they ride for those who suffer, intending to create a force of spirit that finds its way into the hearts of our fellow man. The Rise Above Tour aspires to inspire all individuals to the limitless power of what is humanly obtainable through dedication, commitment, perseverance, and most importantly, love.
By supporting C.O.R.E. "Center Of Rehabilitation Exercise" a not for profit corporation and its message "Rise Above", one directly affects individual lives who suffer a debilitating condition, catastrophic injury and/or chronic illness by funding accessible, low-cost ongoing therapeutic exercise. All contributions to C.O.R.E. inc. are tax deductible and serve to enhance and expand C.O.R.E.'s ability to improve an individual's quality of life by the use of unique and specialized exercise equipment, personalized evaluation and treatment plans, family counsel and resource center, foundation alignment, and lifestyle enhancement programming. Specifically, funds allocated to C.O.R.E. will help build C.O.R.E., expand it's visibility and ability to reach cities, communities, families and individuals, providing opportunities post medical intervention which otherwise don't exist as commonplace. Just as we as a society correlate a great brand with great success, C.O.R.E. will avail its name, reputation, and purpose in a manner to be widely recognized, respected and sought out for its services beyond today's exclusive medical model.
