Dear Friends,

It has been just about a year and a half since I had my accident at Jiminy Peak and I have come so far thanks, in large part, to all of your love and support over that time. Last fall the Middlebury ski team organized a century bike ride to raise money for me to be able to buy adaptive sporting equipment. They raised over $65,000! With that money I was able to buy a mono-ski, an adaptive golf cart, a hand cycle (adaptive bike), and participate in an adaptive surfing event.

Skiing started last year in November when my parents and I traveled to Vail, CO to work with instructors out there. I got four good days on snow but quickly realized that I had a long way to go! Over the winter I went skiing at the Middlebury Snow Bowl mostly but also made trips to Sugarbush and Stowe. In the beginning the instructor used a bar that was attached to the bucket that I sit in and he could basically do everything for me. From there I graduated to using tethers like how a young child learns to ski. Usually my dad or boyfriend, Zeke, would hold onto the tethers to slow me down and could sometimes keep me from falling. This was the hardest time because it was really difficult to stop and control my speed. They were taking the brunt of the work. Luckily they are both strong enough! During a trip to the NCAA Skiing Championships in New Hampshire (which Lindsay skied in) I worked with another instructor who didn’t want me to use the tethers anymore. I was forced to ski on my own! It was a great experience being on a flat slope and controlling my own speed. From then on I have never used the tethers. I kept working at the Snow Bowl and my last day of the season went to Sugarbush to try some steeper terrain. It was really scary but I made it. I plan to continue to work on my skiing this year with a final goal of skiing (whether in the course or just next to it) during the Middlebury Carnival in February of 2008.

As for my other athletic adventures, I have used my handcycle (a three wheeled bike that you pedal with your arms) a bunch and really enjoy riding on the roads around my house. I got the golf cart this summer and have used it a number of times (though, between rainy days and school, I haven’t gotten out as much as I would have liked to). It also has three wheels and stands me up into an upright standing position so I can swing (with one arm) from there. It is a very cool device, I just need a little practice! My surf trip also came this summer when I went to North Carolina to do an event put on by the Life Rolls On Foundation. They have a program called “They Will Surf Again” which gets paras and quads back in the water surfing. They had about 50 volunteers for 6 or 7 surfers and they helped me to lie on the board and surf by steering with my arms. It was an amazing experience. Anyone who knew my love for surfing can understand how much this experience meant to me.

As for school I made it through the year at Middlebury (making the Dean’s List my first semester back) and I have just finished up three classes this summer at UVM which puts me back on track to graduate on time in the spring of 2008! One of my first goals after being hurt was to graduate on time and it looks like that will happen. Just another example of if you put your mind to something, it can happen.

Well that is an update of how I have been doing since my accident and now I would like to let you know about what is coming up. This fall we are holding the second annual Kelly Brush Century Ride. Last year the ride was to benefit me in purchasing sporting equipment and this year it is going to the Kelly Brush Foundation that my family and I started. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to:

• Safety in Ski Racing
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research
• Purchasing adaptive sporting equipment for individuals with SCI and financial needs
• Supporting the U.S. Disabled Ski Team

The foundation has raised $18,000 in the past year and has already made grants to the following:

• Vermont Alpine Racing Association (Safety)
• Craig Hospital (Research)
• Green Mountain Valley School (Safety)
• Mount Mansfield Ski Club (Safety)
• Middlebury College Ski Team (Safety)

The ride this year is open to all who want to participate and it is happening on Saturday, September 15, 2007. There will be a 100 and 50 mile loop and will be of medium intensity which will wind through the beautiful Champlain Valley beginning at Middlebury College. A barbeque hosted by the Middlebury Ski Team will be held immediately following the ride. You can visit www.KellyBrushFoundation.org and click on the century ride link to view the brochure, see pictures from last years ride, sign up for the ride, or just donate money to the foundation.

Please join us to ride, volunteer, or just support the mission of the Kelly Brush Foundation. I look forward to hearing from all of you. Once again thank you for your continued support and love during this time of transition in my life.

My very best to all of you,

Kelly