The Launch of BREA!! Blue Ridge Elder Adventures Fundraiser

Hi Folks!

We are so excited to be launching our new community-based program called Blue Ridge Elder Adventures (BREA) where nature, arts, and generations unite! We are reaching out to YOU, our community to help us get BREA launched into success!

Our BREA team of skilled occupational and physical therapists are passionate about empowering adults aged 60 and above, inclusive of all abilities, to participate in enriching nature-based experiences and the diverse arts and cultural events offered by our vibrant community of Western North Carolina. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging, promoting active engagement among generations, and creating meaningful connections that contribute to the overall well-being of individuals and our community as a whole. And most importantly we want to have a lot of fun together!

How YOU Can Help:

As we gear up to launch our services in May, we need YOUR support to make a difference! This additional funding will help provide adventures for individuals who can’t afford to purchase a ticket and will directly fund scholarships that bring memorable experiences for people and enrich lives. We will also use this funding for some of our initial service costs, permits, etc. Every donation no matter how big or small contributes towards helping propel our launch into success!

What We Offer:

We have worked hard to build our infrastructure on a strong foundation through building our team of therapists and professionals and with the purchase of our wheelchair-accessible transportation. With these key details in place, we can provide a safe and supportive environment for elders who want our support to continue enjoying these beautiful mountains and community that surround us!

We will be throwing our BREA Kick-Off Party Greenway Stroll and Picnic at Carrier Park May 3rd and we'd love for you to come out, meet our team, and have some fun by the river! We will also be offering events such as trips to the North Carolina Arboretum, greenway strolls, hiking, farm tours, horseback riding and horsemanship, charter boat tours, outdoor concerts, kayaking adventures, forest bathing and tea ceremony, tai chi classes, scenic Blue Ridge Parkway tours, and more.

How This Journey Began:

As a healthcare provider and occupational therapist who has worked in our medical system and with older adults for over eight years, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible therapeutic benefits of being with nature and with friends on the overall well-being of a person. Unfortunately, I have also witnessed the social isolation and lack of access to the outdoors and our community which leads to poor health outcomes and quality of life for individuals.

Numerous studies have found that being in green spaces for even 2 hours a week has significant positive benefits to our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Such as:

• Improving mood by decreasing stress and anxiety and helping the nervous system calm and rebalance.

• Reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness

• And also improving physical health, cognitive function, and immune system function

In 2022 we started our project Accessible WNC. We wanted to provide a community resource of outdoor locations and venues to advocate and highlight the growing need for accessible spaces in our community. This was where we realized how transportation and social support were a major issue for people to get outdoors and enjoy our wonderful community events. We discovered the importance of developing community-based programs like BREA to fill this exponentially growing need and make our communities more accessible and enjoyable for people as they age. Now, BREA is here and ready to launch!

Thank YOU for supporting Blue Ridge Elder Adventures as we embark on this exciting journey! Your contribution means the world to us and to the individuals we serve!

Warm regards,

Kristin Goodwin (Co-founder, OTR/L) & Sheila O'Connor (Co-founder and OTR/L) And the BREA Team✨