Interim HealthCare Announced as Adapted Course Sponsor

The Barber National Institute has announced that Interim HealthCare will serve as the major sponsor for the Adapted Course for adults with intellectual or physical disabilities at this year’s Barber Beast on the Bay. The event, featuring a 1.2 mile course with seven obstacles located near Beach One at Presque Isle State Park, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12.

“We are very grateful to have Interim HealthCare as the presenting sponsor for the adapted course,” said John Barber, president and chief executive officer of the Barber National Institute. “We believe that this is the only such event of its kind in the nation, and provides a unique opportunity for adults with disabilities. Interim is a noted provider of health and medical services in our community, and it is a natural fit for the company to support an event focused on improving health and wellness.”

Nearly 100 adults with disabilities participated in the adapted course last year, and the number is expected to double in 2015. A new feature that was instituted last year, the intersection of the adapted course with the 10-mile Beast on the Bay course, will be offered again as an opportunity for participants in both events to complete an obstacle together.

“The intersection of the courses was really well received by everyone as it offered participants on the 10-mile course the opportunity to see what this event is all about,” said Barber. “It reminded everyone involved that the event is really here to support services that are making a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

Seven obstacles will be spaced throughout the course and incorporate a variety of challenges that are being developed by a team of physical therapists and educators from the Barber National Institute, fitness trainers and representatives from the disabilities community. The obstacles will have adapted course participants shuttling cannon balls, going over or under hurdles, rowing oars to raise a flag, filling and hoisting buckets of sand, and scaling ramps.

Participants are invited to have an able-bodied “course buddy” accompany them free of charge to assist on the course.

Registration for the adapted course is now open at www.BarberBeast.org, or a paper application can be requested by calling the Barber National Institute at 480-6810.

More than 630 participants have signed up for the 10-mile course; information and registration for this event is also available at www.BarberBeast.org