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4th Annual Mayor's Cup Attracts over 31 Corporate Teams and Hundreds of Supporters Despite Rain
Annual event raises over $150,000 for national non-profit providing high challenge sports for kids and adults with disabilities
On a rainy Sunday morning on June 25, approximately 400 people gathered to cheer on 31 corporate and philanthropic teams of eight with at least one person with a disability competing in Outrigger Canoe Races during the 4th Annual AccesSportAmerioca Mayor's Cup Regatta on the Charles River. The annual event raises funds to benefit AccesSportAmerica, founded in 1996 by Rev. Ross Lilley and dedicated to higher function and fitness for children and adults with disabilities through high-challenge sports Corporate and Foundation supporters included New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick and Debby Belichick, Gravestar, Mellon New England, Boston College Football Team and Coach Tom O'Brien, TD Banknorth, Boston Business Journal/Mass High Tech, Boston Scientific, The TJX Companies, Millennium Bostonian Hotel, Welch Foods, CVS/pharmacy, Deutsche Bank, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Hill Holiday, Highland Street Foundation among others.
2006 Mayor's Cup RegattaChair Joanne Y. Jaxtimer, Senior VP of Mellon New England commented during the awards ceremony on the significance of this event. "When I look out at today's event, I see mixed teams of athletes ranging from the BC football team coupled with challenged individuals. But what I really see is a community of people—and that's at the heart of AccesSportAmerica. As a proud parent of a child with disabilities, I clearly see the importance of the AccesSportAmerica program and the benefits to the entire community." Boston Business Journal Publisher Michael G. Olivieri added, "We support this program because of its unique mix of high-touch, hands on attention to individual disabled athletes coupled with the philosophy of 'no rides,' meaning the athletes improve their fitness levels because they themselves are doing the hard work." Boston Business Journal and Mass High Tech is an active year-round participant in AccesSportAmerica." We enjoy our leadership position in this organization because it is an excellent way for our papers to spread the word of this wonderful organization to others in the Boston Business Community", stated Olivieri.
For much of the day, colleagues. friends, family members, caregivers, and AccesSport Athletes cheered on other races, listened to music provided by BJ McGoon and Driving Sideways, enjoy the breakfast and the Luau under Gourmet Caterer's big tent, and participated in a raffle.
Olympic Rower Gary Piantedosi and World Class Rower Carey Sands-Bohrer were Race Day Co-Chairs.
AccesSportAmerica Mayor's Cup Regatta is held annually under the leadership is Honorary Chair Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "It's a fantastic organization that uses the city as a backdrop to help individuals", enthusiastically reports Commissioner Stephen Spinetto, of the City of Boston's Commission for Persons with Disabilities who serves on the AccesSportAmerica Board of Directors and paddles in this year's race.
> Pictures from this year's event
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