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| Real Abilities Golf 2000 "Sometimes Reality is even Bigger than your Dreams" |
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| '' No Flag Too Far'" |
| Computer Painting by Bill Miller 08/2000 commissioned for they event. |
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| Order a Poster |
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| Possibility and potential have always been a mainstay in my life philosophy. I know I'm at my best and my happiest when I'm pursuing a dream. Having those dreams come true has happened on many occasions in my life thanks to the help of many, many, many exceptional people. But Real Abilities Golf 2000 went beyond imagination. It felt like we were in one of those films where the main characters land on a tropical island are captured by the natives who immediately mistake them for Gods. |
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| "Is this Heaven? No it's just Real Abilities Golf 2000" |
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| View of the Club House at Pelican Hil.. |
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| Photo Courtesy Wilson Craig |
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| The tournament, sponsored by Madentec, Teddy's Star Foundation and Microsoft, was played at the magnificent Pelican Hill Golf Course in Newport Beach California. One of the top10 courses in the world. I would be one of only 15 Quadriplegic individuals in North America selected to participate in this inaugural, groundbreaking adventure. Adaptive Technology called Tracker 2000, made by Madentec Inc. was making it possible to play Microsoft's Links 2000 on the computer using head movement only. Pelican Hill is featured on Links 2000. An incredible combination of technology would allow us to golf, from our wheelchairs, right alongside, hole for hole with the able-bodied participants in the tournament. |
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| View from the 11th fairway. |
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| In April 2000 Randy Marsden, who invisioned Real Abilities Golf, told me about the possibility of the project. He just casually mentioned it one day. You know travel to Newport Beach California on June 18th, the next day play golf on the computer, at the Pelican Hill Golf Course, with a list of invitees that started with the President of United States. It was all too big to imagine and far beyond anything I could have dreamed of and I'm the dreamer. |
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| I don't know why I couldn't believe it yet. Randy already had a track record of making big dreams come true. Back in 1995 progressing Multiple Sclerosis finally made using my hands to produce Art impossible. I'd been an artist all my life and facing the reality of giving it up was devastating. But thanks to Assistive Technology developed by Randy and his group at Madentec my ability to paint, draw and write were restored. This time all Hands-Free. |
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| When the tournament was moved to August 18th that's when I knew I really wasn't ready. I'd already started to panic, as usual, about the June deadline. I definitely needed more time as my doubts had already made it impossible to ever make it for June. In order to make this trip so many details had to be just right. |
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| In July I wrote a letter to Michael Hammes, President and CEO of Sunrise Medical Corporation. Sunrise designs, manufactures and is a marketer of rehabilitation products and assistive technology on a global level and is recognized as the leader in developing user friendly products of exceptional quality. I told him about Real Abilities Golf 2000, about me and about having used one of their wheelchairs for the past ten years. I also included a list of five possibilities on how we might cooperate in California and in the future. |
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| Now Michael didn't know me from Adam and I don't know what motivated him to take the action he did but "What Action!". He put me in touch with Marilyn Hamilton one of the most impressive, positive, take care of business people I've ever been associated with. A Vice President, no less, in charge of consumer relations and she brought her "A" team with her. With the help of her assistant Kristi Guadagnin no detail was left untouched. We dealt with all five possibilities and added one more request. |
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| Essential to our ability to stay in California was the need for a power patient lifter. In order to get me in and out of the chair, the bed, on and off the toilet and into the shower it could take up to 10 lifts a day. Without this device it would be impossible for Evelyn, my partner/caregiver/mentor/coach/... to handle the 24-hour care I would need in California. Hoyer is one of Sunrise's many product lines and they make a power patient lifter. |
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| This very special request was translated into action just like the others. Marilyn went to great lengths and expense to find and have delivered this extraordinary piece of equipment. I wrote to her before we left, " Thanks just doesn't come close to recognizing the exceptional, over and above treatment you and your organization have afforded me. The care, concern and the attention to detail have been phenomenal. You have made me feel at home and I'm still thousands of miles away". |
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| On our arrival in Newport Beach, as we rolled out of the accessible taxi, I made half a turn and heard, and "You wouldn't be Bill Miller?". The timing was impeccable. As per Marilyn's instructions Charles Smock of Northern California Seating and Mobility greeted us and was ready to set up and train us on our Hoyer Power Patient Lifter. Sunrise Medical had set the stage for the timing, the treatment and the people that were to make up the phenomenal Real Abilities Golf 2000 experience. |
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| We proceeded to check in to the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Resort. Our room was ready as requested with a wheel-in shower, another piece of the puzzle crucial to making our stay possible. The lift was in shipping, as arranged, and would be delivered to our room along with our baggage. Within 20 minutes the lift was set up, instructions given and we were ready to roll. Having the security of a home away from home made it possible to proceed with confidence on the rest of this incredible adventure. |
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| Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Resort |
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| Photos Courtesy Evelyn Dellosa |
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| Another major part of making our stay so memorable were the people and the facilities at the Marriott. When we needed arrangements for taxis, food, information or directions there was a friendly, competent, positive member of the staff right there to help us out. Marriott definitely runs a first-class operation. |
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| WHAT A START and if you're wondering. It only gets better. |
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| To Be Continued... |
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| Media Coverage |
| Edmonton Sun |
| AbleTV.net |
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| For more Information: |
| Randy Marsden |
| Real Abilities Inc. (c/oMadentec) |
| Edmonton, Alberta |
| realabilities@madentec.com |
| Tel: 780-440-2972 |
| Fax: 780-988-6182 |
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