This is the only camp of its kind in West Virginia, with the closest other iCanShine bike camps located in Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The continuance of this camp is so important, as it can be life-changing for children in regard to gaining confidence and becoming more physically active, according to the camp’s director, Dr. Elizabeth Pacioles.
“We’ve struggled with funding in past years and we still need sponsors and volunteers to assist with our program. We would love to see continued support from our community to help make this camp available for our kids,” Pacioles said.
iCanShine is a national organization that works with local organizations to host camps in individual communities. Staff members travel the country conducting the camps, and have an average success rate of more than eighty percent. Participants attend one 75-minute session each day for five consecutive days.
To be eligible to register for the camp, participants must be at least 8 years old and have a diagnosed disability. They must have a minimum inseam of 20 inches, weigh less than 220 pounds and be able to walk without assistive devices. Teens and adults may participate as well.
The registration fee is $100, but scholarships are available. For more information on registration or volunteering, visit www.marshall.edu/icanshine/.
For more information on the camp or to inquire about scholarships, contact Pacioles by e-mail at caseyel@marshall.edu or call 304-696-5831. Individuals interested in helping to defray the costs of the camp through financial donations may contact Rick Robinson at 304-696-7081.
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Photo: Corporate sponsors, riders and volunteers are needed from the university and surrounding Huntington community for the 2019 iCanShine Bike Camp at Marshall University. For more information on this year’s camp, visit www.marshall.edu/icanshine.