
Senior Trending Article – Aug. 2016
Bud Cosgrove MA, CPT
Director of Senior Wellness/Special Needs Programs
Sportset Health and Fitness Club.
“Our aspirations are our possibilities.”
Meet Cynthia Brenner, long time Sportset Senior member and a truly inspiring role model for our “chronologically gifted” (60 and over) members. Cynthia turned 85 in July 2015, and received a cherished gift from her sons during her visit to Colorado. Her lifelong aspiration, going back to her childhood, was to parachute from a plane, and on that memorable day in July, Cynthia realized the possibility of her dream. Flying at 10,000 feet above the Fort Collins Colorado landscape she exited the plane with her instructor, and describes the decent as “just a wonderful floating feeling.” “I could clearly see Pikes Peak, the majestic Rocky Mountains, and the lush valley below.” “Looking up I could touch the clouds; I did not want this to end.” “I never closed my eyes.”
Cynthia's dream to sky dive was well known to her two sons and her late husband Warren, but had to be put on hold due to her family responsibilities and her teaching career, and decades passed, but ultimately her dream was to be full filled by her sons in Colorado. They made the reservation for her, and she eagerly reported to the Royal Gorge Skydiving School. She is picture alongside the school's sign.
She described the detailed orientation required before the jump, and the myriad of paperwork to be signed, followed with the rigging of her jump gear along with further instructions on how she was to land. You'll note from these pictures that she smiled throughout out the total experience.
Once airborne, her plane climbed to 10,000 feet; cruised over the drop zone, and with the order to exit, Cynthia stepped out onto the exit platform and then: “let's go”; and describing her exit and decent as “a wonderful floating sensation.”
She landed safely, still with that infectious smile, and obviously with a great sense of achievement and satisfaction. Would she do it again? “ Absolutely.”
Back to earth, and on to Sportset, Cynthia proudly showed her pictures to our Monday morning class, receiving well deserved congratulations, but more importantly, she exemplified the famous saying: “it is never too late.”
In addition to Cynthia's spirit of adventure she is also a very active volunteer with the Canine Companions for Independence Program. This special program provides highly skilled companion dogs that are trained to assist people with disabilities in a variety of ways. Cynthia also volunteers at the Bideawee Pet Welfare Program of Long Island; and in her spare time, she volunteers at the Mercy Medical Center here in Rockville Centre.
There is a quote that I think profoundly sums up Cynthia's story: “the human spirit will overcome any obstacle in the way of a dream” It took decades of obstacles large and small, but Cynthia's dream to sky dive eventually on her 85th birthday ultimately prevailed.
Congratulations,
Bud Cosgrove, Director
Senior Wellness Program
Bud Cosgrove MA, CPT
Director of Senior Wellness/Special Needs Programs
Sportset Health and Fitness Club.
“Our aspirations are our possibilities.”
Meet Cynthia Brenner, long time Sportset Senior member and a truly inspiring role model for our “chronologically gifted” (60 and over) members. Cynthia turned 85 in July 2015, and received a cherished gift from her sons during her visit to Colorado. Her lifelong aspiration, going back to her childhood, was to parachute from a plane, and on that memorable day in July, Cynthia realized the possibility of her dream. Flying at 10,000 feet above the Fort Collins Colorado landscape she exited the plane with her instructor, and describes the decent as “just a wonderful floating feeling.” “I could clearly see Pikes Peak, the majestic Rocky Mountains, and the lush valley below.” “Looking up I could touch the clouds; I did not want this to end.” “I never closed my eyes.”
Cynthia's dream to sky dive was well known to her two sons and her late husband Warren, but had to be put on hold due to her family responsibilities and her teaching career, and decades passed, but ultimately her dream was to be full filled by her sons in Colorado. They made the reservation for her, and she eagerly reported to the Royal Gorge Skydiving School. She is picture alongside the school's sign.
She described the detailed orientation required before the jump, and the myriad of paperwork to be signed, followed with the rigging of her jump gear along with further instructions on how she was to land. You'll note from these pictures that she smiled throughout out the total experience.
Once airborne, her plane climbed to 10,000 feet; cruised over the drop zone, and with the order to exit, Cynthia stepped out onto the exit platform and then: “let's go”; and describing her exit and decent as “a wonderful floating sensation.”
She landed safely, still with that infectious smile, and obviously with a great sense of achievement and satisfaction. Would she do it again? “ Absolutely.”
Back to earth, and on to Sportset, Cynthia proudly showed her pictures to our Monday morning class, receiving well deserved congratulations, but more importantly, she exemplified the famous saying: “it is never too late.”
In addition to Cynthia's spirit of adventure she is also a very active volunteer with the Canine Companions for Independence Program. This special program provides highly skilled companion dogs that are trained to assist people with disabilities in a variety of ways. Cynthia also volunteers at the Bideawee Pet Welfare Program of Long Island; and in her spare time, she volunteers at the Mercy Medical Center here in Rockville Centre.
There is a quote that I think profoundly sums up Cynthia's story: “the human spirit will overcome any obstacle in the way of a dream” It took decades of obstacles large and small, but Cynthia's dream to sky dive eventually on her 85th birthday ultimately prevailed.
Congratulations,
Bud Cosgrove, Director
Senior Wellness Program