Cycling the Carolinas For New Life Coming to Ashe

By Allison Canter

The Cycling the Carolinas for New Life event will begin on the North Carolina coast on Saturday, May 16, with cycling events scheduled through June. Cookie, a rescued shelter dog is 'Cycling for those who can't' and challenges the people of Ashe to cycle to help raise money to train other rescued dogs.

Cookie will be cycling in the 'Cookie Box' with Dr. Jim Taylor, a volunteer and board member of New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs, in an effort to help raise money for the training of other rescued shelter dogs, like herself, to assist persons with disabilities.

Individuals who would like to help can join Cookie or other rescued dogs in a leg in their area of 'Cycling the Carolinas for New Life,' organize a team to ride in a leg of the cycling event, join others in the Cookie Challenge at local schools or seek donations if you are unable to cycle.

The Ashe County Husky leg will be held May 23, at 9 a.m. in Fleetwood and travel along the scenic New River, ending at the South Fork Baptist Church in Todd, with a loop to return there for both the 10-mile leg and the 25-mile leg.

The Wilkes County Eagle leg will begin May 30, at Wilkes Central High School on Moravian Falls Road, going through the area and looping back to the high school for the seven-mile leg and the 25-mile leg.

The Watauga County Pioneer leg will be held June 13, at Cove Creek, and will follow a fairly flat course and loop back to Cove Creek for the ten-mile leg and the 25-mile leg.

In 1985, Karen Brown was diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Her strength and independence diminished with each passing year. In March of 1993, Brown was accepted to the Independence Dogs, Inc. assistance dog training program for the disabled, where she was matched with a collie named Ozzie. With lots of hard work and dedication, a very determined team graduated from Independence Dogs. Independent they became, ranging from walking one mile tracks to pulling Karen's wheelchair, retrieving the phone, carrying in groceries, opening the refrigerator door, retrieving a soda and returning to shut the door. In 1996, Brown became a Humane Society of Wilkes member. She became aware of the far too many quality dogs at the local animal shelter that were not getting adopted and being euthanized. A spark was ignited when, in a Florida Humane Society shelter in March 1997, a shepherd/husky mix named Jessie stole her heart. The wheels were set in motion that Jessie would become Ozzie's successor upon his retirement.

So the concept behind New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs was born, not only to rescue shelter dogs and give them a new lease on life, but to give their recipient a new life. A life that will no longer have to rely on always asking for help in some of life's taken for granted, achievements or pleasures.

By 1999, Brown realized that the requests and need for assistance dogs had outgrown her ability of training dogs as a hobby. New Life was incorporated in March 2000, and became a non-profit organization in October of 2000. In less than 10 years since its incorporation she will have graduated over 50 assistance dogs for persons with disabilities.

New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs, which has rescued over 80 dogs from shelters and breed rescue groups, provide emotional support, companionship and health therapy benefits and help to break down social barriers for their recipients. In some cases, dogs are able to take the place of an attendant, which saves money. Lots of recipients speak of newfound confidence and an increased ability to lead fuller lives due to the fact that they do not have to depend on another person to do taken for granted chores.

Recipients of NLMAD dogs include people who have conditions such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, arthritis, spina bifida, stroke, poor balance, birth defects, muscle weakness, limited gripping, loss of overall strength and endurance, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and accidents leaving paralysis. They range in age from four to 82 years old.

For more information, click to www.cyclingthecarolinas.org or call (828) 264-0054.