E-Newsletter / July 2009

Injured Veterans To Set Off On First Annual Florida Challenge

Ride Stops in Gainesville, FL on Dec. 15^th & 16^th

More than 180 injured veterans will set off across Florida on December 12, starting the six-day, 350-mile Ride 2 Recovery Florida Challenge.  The ride features stops at the Florida Gator’s football stadium (The Swamp), World Golf Hall of Fame, and Mayport Naval Base before the ending ceremony at the Jag’s Game. Other highlights along the route include school visits, welcome parades, and community events. The event is presented by UnitedHealthcare.  Ride 2 Recovery Florida Challenge will raise funds to support indoor Spinning® Recovery Labs and outdoor cycling programs at Military and VA locations around the U.S., aiding the rehabilitation and recovery efforts of the injured veterans.

“We are very, very proud to a part of this Ride 2 Recovery Florida Challenge,” said Gail Boudreaux, CEO of UnitedHealthcare.  “The sacrifices made by the men and women in our military are enormous, and when injury occurs, they need the full measure of our support.  We want those brave individuals to enjoy a return to the health and wellbeing they richly deserve.”

The ride will begin Saturday, December 12 from MacDill AFB and end on Thursday, December 17 at the Jacksonville Jag’s game vs. the Colts.  The American Legion Riders will provide a motorcycle escort during the event and several American Legion Posts will sponsor dinners and community events.   

Notable participants include Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Gary Roughead, Warrior Care and Transition Commander BGEN Gary Cheek, Jeremiah Workman - Recipient - Navy Cross, Nathan Hunt - National Spokesman R2R - double amputee, Greg Gadson - double amputee (Superbowl Giants' inspirational co-captain), and Mike McNaughton - National Spokesman R2R and Louisiana Dept. of VA 

The Florida Challenge from Tampa to Jacksonville, presented by UnitedHealthcare, is set to be an exciting, fun, and life-changing event for everyone involved.  To find out more or to sign up for an upcoming ride, please visit www.ride2recovery.com.

About R2R

Ride 2 Recovery improves the health and wellness of injured veterans through cycling.  Cycling is an important part of the recovery process because it is an activity that almost all patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate, and because it helps to speed up the rehabilitation process. 

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare (www.unitedhealthcare.com) provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies.  The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of more than 25 million individual consumers, contracting directly with approximately 590,000 physicians and care professionals and more than 4,900 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide.  UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

Congratulations to all the Athletes who competed in the 9th Annual Senior Games and Good Luck to everyone who has qualified for the State Senior Games Championship this December!

Special Thanks to all of our Gainesville Senior Games Sponsors : Shands HealthCare, the City of Gainesville, Gainesville Television Network, The Village, and ESPN Radio

The 9^th Annual Gainesville Senior Games was held on Friday, October 23^rd thru Sunday, October 25^th.  This year’s games was once again presented by Shands HealthCare and hosted by the Gainesville Sports Commission.  About 300 athletes ages 50 and over competed in 10 sports events all around Alachua County and the City of Gainesville.  Each Senior Games athlete competed for gold, silver and bronze medals in their age group and a chance to qualify for the State Senior Games in December. This year’s Senior Games  featured archery, basketball shooting, 3 on 3 half court basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, road race, tennis, swimming, and track and field.

The Senior Games are funded by the City of Gainesville and the Alachua County Visitors and Conventions Bureau.  This Local Senior Games is sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation and is a qualifier for the Florida State Senior Games Championships.

• Check out the Gainesville Sun article about this year's Senior Games click here

Event Wrap-Up - 2009 Collegiate Water Polo National Championship

University of Florida’s Department of Recreational Sports partnered with the Gainesville Sports Commission (GSC) in hosting the 2009 Collegiate Water Polo National Championship on November 13 -15, 2009 at the Florida Pool on the University of Florida’s campus. The Championship brought in 16 collegiate club water polo teams from all over the nation to compete at Florida Pool.

It was a great weekend of water polo with over 300 athletes and coaches participating.  During each of the 30 games there was an average of 100 spectators attending and over 300 spectators attending for the semi-finals and final games, which is great turnout for a club event. 

  “The Department of Recreational Sports along with the Gainesville Sports Commission looked forward to putting on a first class event for the players and fans of water polo,” said UF’s Sports Club Coordinator and the event’s Tournament Director, Eric Ascher. “Hosting this event is a tremendous opportunity to show off our campus as well as the city of Gainesville. “

Jack Hughes, Executive Director of the GSC, said “We’re pleased to be able to help support these championships with funds from our local bed tax provided by Alachua County and VisitGainesville.”

Thank you to all of the sponsors, volunteers, and staff who helped with this great event!

~ Upcoming Gainesville Sports Commission Events ~

For More Upcoming Events Click Here

Logo Name & Address Phone # Fax #   Platinum - $5,000 and above:   Acceleration.net 2831 Nw 41st Street, Gainesville, FL 32606 352-335-6500 352-335-6506   Best Western Gateway Grand 4200 NW 97th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606 352-331-3336 352-331-3337   Hilton Garden Inn 4075 SW 33rd Place Gainesville, FL 32608 352-338-1466       Courtyard by Marriott Gainesville 3700 SW 42nd Street Gainesville, FL 32608 352-335-9100       Homewood Suites by Hilton Gainesville 3333 SW 42nd Street Gainesville, FL 32608 352-335-3133         Alachua County P.O. Box 2877 Gainesville, FL 32602-2877 374-5210       City of Gainesville 200 East University Ave 334-5000     Florida Food Service Inc. 5201 NE 40th Terrace 372-3514 372-8286   Markey's Audio Visual 1714 SW 34th St, Gainesville, 32607 1-800-686-9987     Shands HealthCare 1600 SW Archer Rd 265-8000 265-0603   Alachua County's Visitor and Convention Bureau 30 East University Ave. Gainesville, FL 32601 (866) 778-5002       Gold - $2,500-$4,999:   Sleep Inn and Suites 4110 SW 40th Boulevard, Gainesville, FL, 32608 (352) 376-4145 (352) 505-0005   Hampton Inn & Suites - Downtown Gainesville 101 SE First Avenue, Gainesville, Florida, USA 32601 (352) 240-9300 (352) 240-9368   Spring Hill Suites Marriott 4155 SW 40th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32608 352-376-8873     O'Connell Center Suite 1232 PO Box 11580 392-5500 392-7160   Holiday Inn - University Center 1250 W. University Ave Gainesville, FL 32601 352-376-1661     Scruggs & Carmichael, P.A. 1 S.E. 1st Ave P.O. Box 23109 Gainesville, FL 32602 (352) 376-5242     Silver - $1,500-$2,499:   Super 8 Motel 4202 SW 40th Blvd. (I-75 Exit 384) Gainesville, Florida 32608 352-436-4450 352-378-3888   Fairfield Inn by Marriott Gainesville 6901 NW 4th Blvd. Gainesville FL 32607 352-332-8292 352-332-2884   Gainesville Raceway 11211 N. County Road 225 377-0046 371-4212   Paramount Plaza Hotel and Suites 2900 Southwest 13th Street Gainesville, FL 32608 352-377-4000 352-371-1159   Country Inn & Suites 4015 SW 43rd Street Gainesville, FL 32608 352-375-1550 352-375-9045   Travelodge 3461 SW Williston Rd Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 335-6355     Perry McGriff 1120 NW 13th Street 372-8406 375-1109   Hilton 1714 SW 34th Street  352-371-3600 371-0306   Cabot Lodge 3726 SW 40th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32608 352-375-2400 352-335-2321   Bronze - $750-$1,499:   Helen K. Gyllstrom, C.P.A. 8602 SW 5th Pl Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 332-0618       Half Mile Timing 5745 SW 75th St. #303 Gainesville, FL 32608 352-682-1171     Kcom Media 17 N.W. 17th Street 352-377-2913 331-4898   Sport - $300-$749:   Subway Sandwiches and Salads 3008 NW 13th Street Gainesville, FL 32609 (352) 378-0909     Davis, Monk & Company 4010 N.W. 25th Pl P.O. Box 13494 (32604) Gainesville, FL 32606 (352) 372-6300 (800) 344-5034 (352) 375-1583   Emmer Development 2801 SW Archer Rd. (352) 376-2444     Eng, Denman & Associates, Inc. 2404 NW 43rd Street Gainesville, FL 32606 352-373-3541  352-373-7249   Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce 300 E University Ave Gainesville, FL 32601 352-334-7100     Gainesville Area Rowing PO Box 2434 Gainesville, FL 32602 332-9545     Ironwood Golf Course 2100 NE 39th Ave 334-3120 334-3107   Mark McGriff 2801 SW Archer Rd 336-3551 336-2809   MM Parrish Construction 3455 SW 42nd Ave 378-1571 377-0669   Photography by Richard Ritari   372-5148

 
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GSC is committed to promoting tourism through sporting events in the local community.  Past events include State High School Championship, AAU Track & Field, GSA Gator Soccer Showcase, and Five Points of Marathon.