(July 7, 2016) Berlin nonprofit Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services is joining the fourth-annual Ocean Games this year, hoping to broaden the reach of the event and to raise money and awareness for services benefiting children and families in Berlin.
The annual event, scheduled this year for Saturday, July 16, was started to bring attention to traumatic brain injuries. Proceeds help fund the Johns Hopkins Brain and Stroke Rehabilitation Program in Baltimore.
“There was a local man injured in a motorcycle accident that had traumatic brain injury, and they sent him to Johns Hopkins for rehabilitation. Different doctors told him along the way that he would probably never walk again and be normal again,” WYFCS Executive Director Steven Taylor said.
“Over the years, he worked with Hopkins and now he’s fully functioning, walks around, has a normal conversation with folks and is completely normal,” he added.
That man, Corey Davis, started the event to support Johns Hopkins and its work, Taylor said.
“They have had three years of events, always in July on the beach, and also had after-parties at Seacrets,” Taylor said. “They’ve invited Worcester Youth and Family to be a partner in this effort to bring awareness to mental health care and mental health treatments.”
On the beach, WYFCS will run a “play zone” for families, offering events like a three-legged race, tug-of-war and a hula-hoop challenge.
Meanwhile, the main event will focus on paddleboard races, ultimate Frisbee and one, three and nine-mile swims.
WYFCS will also help organize the after party at Seacrets, which doubles as a secondary fundraiser. Bargain Scotch and Royal Jelly will provide live entertainment, and food and drink specials will be offered from 5-7 p.m.
Tickets to the after party are $10.
“This is our fist year of doing this and helping Ocean Games, and we’re trying to promote it as much as we can and get the word out,” he said. “It’s appealing to Worcester Youth and Family for many reasons. First of all, it brings attention to mental health, and secondly, it’s an opportunity to capture some resources that are here in the summer so we’re not always tapping the local folks for support for our agency.
“This agency can’t exist without community support, so we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to tap into resources, and taking advantage of tourism and the resources that come here is a good way for us to do that,” Taylor added. “That’s one of the reasons we’re so excited to partner with Ocean Games.
“We’re very appreciative of the initiation, and we think we have a lot in common in that we both want to support the community and we both want to bring attention to mental health,” Taylor said.
Registration for the nine-mile swim is closed. Registration for the three-mile swim is open until July 13 at noon. Sign-up for the one-mile swim can be completed during the day of the event.
Registration for the East Coast SUP CUP paddleboard races closes on July 15 at 4 p.m., and ultimate Frisbee registration is open on the day of the event.
For more information or to register or inquire about sponsorships, visit www.oceangamesusa.org.
For more information on Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, visit www.gowoyo.org.
The annual event, scheduled this year for Saturday, July 16, was started to bring attention to traumatic brain injuries. Proceeds help fund the Johns Hopkins Brain and Stroke Rehabilitation Program in Baltimore.
“There was a local man injured in a motorcycle accident that had traumatic brain injury, and they sent him to Johns Hopkins for rehabilitation. Different doctors told him along the way that he would probably never walk again and be normal again,” WYFCS Executive Director Steven Taylor said.
“Over the years, he worked with Hopkins and now he’s fully functioning, walks around, has a normal conversation with folks and is completely normal,” he added.
That man, Corey Davis, started the event to support Johns Hopkins and its work, Taylor said.
“They have had three years of events, always in July on the beach, and also had after-parties at Seacrets,” Taylor said. “They’ve invited Worcester Youth and Family to be a partner in this effort to bring awareness to mental health care and mental health treatments.”
On the beach, WYFCS will run a “play zone” for families, offering events like a three-legged race, tug-of-war and a hula-hoop challenge.
Meanwhile, the main event will focus on paddleboard races, ultimate Frisbee and one, three and nine-mile swims.
WYFCS will also help organize the after party at Seacrets, which doubles as a secondary fundraiser. Bargain Scotch and Royal Jelly will provide live entertainment, and food and drink specials will be offered from 5-7 p.m.
Tickets to the after party are $10.
“This is our fist year of doing this and helping Ocean Games, and we’re trying to promote it as much as we can and get the word out,” he said. “It’s appealing to Worcester Youth and Family for many reasons. First of all, it brings attention to mental health, and secondly, it’s an opportunity to capture some resources that are here in the summer so we’re not always tapping the local folks for support for our agency.
“This agency can’t exist without community support, so we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to tap into resources, and taking advantage of tourism and the resources that come here is a good way for us to do that,” Taylor added. “That’s one of the reasons we’re so excited to partner with Ocean Games.
“We’re very appreciative of the initiation, and we think we have a lot in common in that we both want to support the community and we both want to bring attention to mental health,” Taylor said.
Registration for the nine-mile swim is closed. Registration for the three-mile swim is open until July 13 at noon. Sign-up for the one-mile swim can be completed during the day of the event.
Registration for the East Coast SUP CUP paddleboard races closes on July 15 at 4 p.m., and ultimate Frisbee registration is open on the day of the event.
For more information or to register or inquire about sponsorships, visit www.oceangamesusa.org.
For more information on Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, visit www.gowoyo.org.