PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 30, 2018)—SPORTS ‘N SPOKES, the sports and recreation magazine of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Abilities Expo, the Spina Bifida Association and Cure Medical, a manufacturer of intermittent catheters, have joined forces online to debut a fresh take on the popular Wheels UP! accessible travel photo contest (formerly known as Get Out, Enjoy Life).
Now in its eighth year, the 2018 Wheels UP! accessible travel event kicks off September 1, 2018, with a photo contest and prize giveaways for participants. As part of the event, SPORTS ‘N SPOKES, Spina Bifida Association, Abilities Expo and Cure Medical social media pages will share daily photos of people who use wheelchairs enjoying accessible vacation spots, outdoors programs and other activities. The goal of the whole campaign is to encourage people with disabilities to explore their world through accessible travel and adaptive sports.
“For SPORTS `N SPOKES, the Wheels UP! event is much more than a simple photo contest. It’s a way to bring a community together and encourage people to seek out an active, healthy lifestyle while exploring the world around them. Since 2012, when Lisa Wells and I started Get Out, Enjoy Life, one fundamental value has always held true: to showcase our readers’ limitless spirit of adventure,” said Christopher Di Virgilio, Wheels UP! co-founder and SPORTS ‘N SPOKES web content manager.
“Community is important to the Spina Bifida Association and its constituents. The Wheels UP! program fits well with SBA's goals to develop a stronger, close-knit community and highlight how people with spina bifida go beyond all limits. This is the perfect opportunity for our community members to connect with and encourage each other,” SBA president and CEO Sara Struwe explained.
“We are thrilled to offer the Wheels UP! accessible travel photo contest to more than 100,000 families served by the Spina Bifida Association and Abilities Expos along with wheelchair users throughout the United States and Canada. We hope these deserving families will love Wheels UP! accessible travel resources plus the opportunity to share their own photos as encouragement to others who want to explore their world on wheels,” Cure Medical CEO John Anderson said.
“The Wheels UP! photo contest supports the overall mission of Abilities Expo events in a meaningful, tangible way. The Abilities Expo, whether it is our physical events or community resources online, exists to introduce opportunities that can enrich your life, especially ones that you never knew were out there,” Abilities Expo president and CEO David Korse added.
View the full program details can be found here.
A team of celebrity judges will choose the winning photos from the Wheels UP! event, lending their unique perspectives and trained eye to the contest. Photo judges include:
- WCMX and Adaptive Surfing Superstar Christiaan "Otter" Bailey
- iPush Foundation director Chris Malcom
- Ms. Wheelchair California 2005 and Flower of Life Retreats founder Kristina Rhoades
- Cure Medical founder and former Reeve Foundation Board Member Bob Yant
- Spinal Cord USA community founder Clint Cook
- Abilities Expo host and accessible travel/mobility vehicle expert Julienne Dallara
Contest participants may submit photos of related sports activities, family vacations and weekend outings to be considered for one of four grand prizes. Residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible for prizes. Wheels UP! photo contest winners will receive:
First-place: Winning photo lands the front cover of the November 2018 SPORTS `N SPOKES. Five issues of November 2018 SPORTS `N SPOKES magazine. $1,000 Southwest Airlines E-Gift Card (See southwestairlines.com for rules and restrictions).
Second-place: Winning photo will appear in the November 2018 SPORTS `N SPOKES Final Frame. Three issues of the November 2018 SPORTS `N SPOKES magazine. An EZ-Access portable folding ramp (a $300 value).
Third-place: Winning photo will appear in the SPOKE of the Week on the SPORTS `N SPOKES website. A $200 gift card from At Home Medical. Two issues of the November 2018 SPORTS `N SPOKES magazine.
Honorable Mention Winner: Winning photo will appear on SPORTS `N SPOKES social media pages. One issue of the November 2018 SPORTS `N SPOKES magazine. A Water-One Pure2Go portable water purifier Go-Kit (a $100 value).
Submit your contest photos here.
Contest details and official rules are viewable here.
The Wheels UP! photo contest begins on September 1, 2018 and ends on September 14, 2018.
