Ian Saarmann, LIFE's Fitness Coordinator, has spent 5 years coaching and mentoring LIFE residents to put their best feet forward by becoming physically active and fit and to always keep their eyes on the real gold: being the best you can be.  During the past 5 years, residents have lost hundreds of pounds , improved their health and achieved lofty fitness goals.  It's no wonder that he is incredibly proud that  the LIFE Survivors basketball team has been chosen to represent the state of Massachusetts in the Special Olympics National Games in Nebraska this summer.  The LIFE Survivors basketball team includes current LIFE residents, former LIFE residents and LIFE staff.  They are coached by local Special Olympics volunteers.  LIFE resident team athletes are Matt Klompus, Amanda McKelvey, Trey Marabella, Mike Shapiro, and Chris Sturz. They will be joined by Ian, former LIFE residents, Kerri Gilroy and Caroline Kokkins  and LIFE staffers, Matt Cronin (Executive Director) and Corinne Wickel.

PLEASE JOIN US in a 5K RACE/WALK...
To raise funds and awareness for our Special Olympics effort , LIFE will be hosting the 1st Annual "Lovin' LIFE" 5K Race/Walk on Saturday, May 8th.  The race will begin at  9 a.m. on Commercial Street in Mashpee's South Cape Village and end at the Mashpee LIFE condominium complex on Great Neck Road where all participants will be invited to join in a fun and celebratory block party. "We're excited to have a great race/walk and party, and to share our enthusiasm with the local community", said Ian.  "Our athletes are practicing very hard to prepare for the National Games and the race/walk is our formal 'kick-off'."  Registration for the walk is $20. To pre-register, please email Ian at ian@lifecapecod.org . Participants may also register from 7:30AM to 8:45AM on the day of the event. 

Oh, and did we tell you that our athletes will be playing at the home of the Boston Celtics, Boston Garden at half-time at the March 31 game?  That's right, and we promise to take pictures!

If you would like to help support these and other athletic initiatives at LIFE, please send a check made out to The LIFE Athletic Fund, 550 Lincoln Road Extension, Hyannis, MA 02601.

Charlotte Lawrence, LIFE resident (r), with Alissa Bergeron

16 year old Alissa Bergeron, a student at Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis, might say that volunteering is just in her blood. "It seems like I have been volunteering all of my life " she said.  "I have volunteered for 'Claws', a local cat shelter, the Noah Shelter for the homeless, and for the Audible Local Ledger, where my mom is the director.  I have grown up in a family where community service is important."  Alissa now volunteers every week at LIFE, sharing tips with residents about playing  Wii, an activity that she loves. "I also help with fitness program data entry", she added. "Volunteering  broadens your horizons, helps you to get to know your community and gives you a chance to help others.  I love volunteering at LIFE." Karen Megathlin, a LIFE trustee, volunteers her time to give knitting lessons at LIFE.  Several residents are now regulars at this class which promotes and preserves this traditionally expressive and relaxing craft.  One can often find a LIFE resident, sitting in the recreation center while totally absorbed in a scarf or hat project that was inspired by Karen.
For Joe Bohnenberger and his 12 year old son, Freddy, volunteering is a family affair. They live in Mashpee and share the unusual hobby of birdhouse construction.  According to Joe,
" We've been building birdhouses for friends and family for the past several years, so we thought that it would be fun to share our skills with the residents of the nearby LIFE at Mashpee community.  We're happy that the LIFE residents have been so eager to learn this craft." Joe's son, Freddy, is a Sea Scout and serving community service is an integral aspect of his scouting activities. "We just painted the birdhouses", said Freddy, "and we can't wait to see them hanging up at LIFE.  It's so much fun to watch the birds go in and out of their new homes."
Involvement in hobbies and learning new skills can provide so much life enrichment, whether one has disabilities or not. Many of LIFE's residents have remarkable abilities to become proficient at new skills or activities. So, if you have a special ability to share, we welcome you to stretch beyond your comfort zone and to join us as a Volunteer for LIFE.  We're pretty certain that you'll find working with our great group of enthusiastic and appreciative residents a very rewarding experience. For more information, please call 508-790-3600 or email Volunteer@lifecapecod.org.

Matt Cronin, LIFE's Executive Director

One of the most enriching experiences in life is to be a part
of a group or team: to take part in a book club, to be a member of a local church, to play basketball with a group of people, or to volunteer at a local food pantry or senior center.  At LIFE, one of our goals is to help our residents enjoy the experience of being a part of something - both on campus and within the greater Cape Cod community.  LIFE offers a myriad of opportunities within its communities.  We also work to establish relationships with local Cape Cod vendors and businesses that help open doors for our residents.  Some of these vendors come on to our campuses to teach classes - from kung fu to Zumba dance, to ongoing classes such as theatre (taught by our friends at the Harwich Junior Theatre).  Other opportunities are off campus, such as the ongoing art classes taught at the Cotuit Center for the Arts, the "Open Gym" at the Boys and Girls Club of Cape Cod and swimming at the Cape Cod YMCA.  I'm excited about new initiatives, such as "Wagging Tails", where volunteers bring various dogs on to campus to interact with groups of residents.  We welcome all creative ideas and suggestions about ways to create more opportunities for the LIFE residents.  It's so exciting to see people enjoy a new experience, and to enjoy becoming a part of something!

Sarah Lynn, LIFE resident

Those who know Mashpee resident, Sarah Lynn,  find her warm smile contagious. It's apparent that she is a person who is quite happy with her life.  And she is thrilled to be the focus of Connect to LIFE's resident interview:

Paula Shea, LIFE staff member.

Paula Shea is a dedicated and valued LIFE employee, who works at the LIFE House, within LIFE's Mashpee condominium community.

Tell us about your work at LIFE.
"I'm a Residential Counselor at the LIFE House group home.  I've worked at LIFE for 6 years and I really like the support I receive from my co-workers and seeing the positive growth of the people I help to support."
How did you become interested in working at LIFE?
"For awhile, I worked with one of the LIFE residents on a private basis. I eventually met one of the residents of LIFE House. I gradually got to know her and some of the LIFE House staff members.  I just knew that it was a place where I would enjoy my work."
When you're not at work, what are your favorite activities?
"There are many activities that I enjoy. I love spending time with my family, reading, taking beach walks and traveling.  I also love R&B music."
What type of books do you enjoy?
"I love many books and many authors. And I do love a good mystery."
"Do you have a favorite movie?
"I'd have to say 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' because it was the first movie that I saw in a movie theatre. It is also special to me because it is the first movie that I saw with my grandfather."
What makes you happy?
"I am happiest when my nephews are healthy and happy. And when they tell me that they love me my heart just melts."