May 9, 2025 • 8 mins
Tony checks in with Victoria Heasley of NovaCare and UC on ESPN 1530!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back since e three to sixty moving along hour
number three thanks to Penn Station on ESPN fifteen thirty,
Cincinnati's sports station. Let's do this. Each week we get
a chance to talk to our good friends from Novacare
the University of Cincinnati. This week we get a first timer.
Victoria Heasley is at the University of Cincinnati and she
(00:21):
can actually be found on the sidelines during football season,
but also has some really really cool stuff going on
outside of just being an attending physician at UC in
the physical medicine and rehabilitation at sports medicine departments. She's
also really got some awesome stuff going on from the
adaptive sports side of things as well, and she's nice
enough to join us for a couple minutes today. Victoria,
(00:42):
how are you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I'm doing great. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
I don't think we've had a chance yet in these
segments to talk about the adaptive sports community and the
growing sports population within that. For those that don't know,
what is the adaptive sports side of things and how
prevalent is that now in Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Well, luckily, over the last several years, the adaptive sports
world here in our hometown is getting much bigger, and
I'm so happy to be a part of it. And
one of the big reasons I think we've been growing
a lot is because of the nonprofit, The Bridge Adaptive
Sports and Recreation. So I'm actually one of the co
founders and current president of the Bridge, and we really
(01:28):
have brought a lot of people together, a lot of
groups together, and a lot of teams together to spread
awareness and really just increase the number of opportunities for
people who want to participate in any type of sport.
You know, we don't like to be told no, No
one does, and so we really just came together because
we wanted to give people in our town here the
ability to try any sport or any recreation regardless of
(01:51):
what their abilities are, regardless of what type of equipment
they needed, and wanted to make it possible for them.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
That's the big thing, eliminating the barriers that sometimes get
labeled with the condition that maybe someone is dealing with.
But you mentioned from an equipment standpoint in knocking down
those barriers, how have you guys been able to go
about doing that in the length of time that the
Bridge has been up and running.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, So if anyone has seen it apt to sports
or maybe watch the Paralympics, you'll notice that a lot
of the athletes need really specialized equipment, and as you
would imagine, that's really expensive and it's a huge barrier.
And so one of the ways the Bridge wanted to
step in and kind of solve that problem is we
have a huge bank of equipment and we loan that
(02:39):
out to people, and we really just want people to
get out and try the sport and see if they
like it. And we wanted to do that for free
for anyone to see if they like it. And then
once they kind of identify which sport maybe they love
or they want to compete in or really get spend
a lot of the time, and then we can kind
of help them get maybe something more customizable piece of
equipment for them. But really just wanting to give all
(03:02):
of that equipment out, you know, even if it's if
we're modifying it on the go or making it work
for you, it's it's at least trying to get rid
of that barrier.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
What does that process look like for an athlete who
who may be going through obviously a difficult time or
wanting to learn more and figure out, Okay, what is
best for me, which sport am I able to pick up?
What does that process look like from the first time
you're meeting these athletes and getting them with the right
equipment and getting them into the right sport.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, honestly, a lot of it is awareness about the bridge,
whether you know, we're telling them when we are meeting
them in the clinic or in the hospital or you know,
we're shameless, and even if we see someone out in
you know, the grocery store. We just try to spread
the news about the bridge. And then for example this
summer through the huge calendar events all summer long, and
some of our events are called try it Days, which
(03:54):
is exactly what it is. Just you come out, you
try it, and maybe you try for example, adaptive mountain
biking and you love it. Maybe you try and like
not for me, that's fine, let's try adapt of golf.
So the next weekend and you know, just coming and
just being open to trying something, and it's always wonderful
to see the smiles. And then when people finally find
(04:15):
you know, that sport or that activity that they're like, yep,
this is for me, I want to keep doing this,
and then we really help them kind of succeed From
that standpoint too.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
It's incredible from a sports standpoint, just how many programs
and events that you guys have going on. It's really
limited to nothing. There is something that everyone can at
least give an opportunity to try. For you mentioned, all
of this doesn't come for free. There's a lot of
work that goes into this. From a volunteer standpoint, from
(04:44):
a donation standpoint, how are listeners able to get more
understanding into the Bridge and maybe even help from me
either a volunteer and again a donation standpoint as well, Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Thank you. I mean a lot of information is at
our website, the Bridge adaptive dot org or on our
social media. You know. I think one thing is, you know,
if anyone listening wants to come and just at least
see one of our events or volunteer, you know, we
need people from all backgrounds, from all expertises. You know,
even if you just don't mind coming and helping us
(05:21):
move boxes right or move equipment or help sign people
in along or even if you want to, like you know,
ride your bike along one of our athletes. Any expertise
is great from a volunteering standpoint, and just getting out
there and meeting the athletes and meeting and it's really hard.
It would kind of suck people in. From that standpoint,
I feel like once you see it, you just want
to keep coming back for more. And like, oh, I
(05:43):
don't know how we are a nonprofit. So yeah, we're
a nonprofit as you would imagine. So we're always fundraising
and looking for sponsorships and donations. So again, any all
of our resources are on the website, so pleading any
help is wonderful.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
From a UC standpoint, I know, I don't think it
was as prevalent when I was going to school at
U See, but I know that the adaptive community, even
on campus, has has continued to grow. Are what are
some of the adaptive sports that are currently happening on campus?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Oh? Yes, this was this last year. I'm so excited
to announce and I was one of the founders. So
because of all this community work that we have here
at the Bridge, Cincinnati was the next university ready, so
you see now has the next adaptive college sports program.
So there's less than twenty universities in the country actually
that offer college level adaptive sports, and so I'm so
(06:39):
happy to say, you see is one of them now
and so we have around six athletes this year, and
we have individualized sports. We have wheelchair tennants and then
track and field, and so our athletes have already been
able to compete out there in the country wearing the
bear Cats and which has been amazing. And we're you know,
continue group cruit athletes. We already have some recruits fits
(07:02):
coming fall, and we'll continue to expand and hopefully get
wheelchair basketball in the future too.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
This is this is absolutely awesome. So many good things
happening right here in our own community. One more time
for those listening for the Bridge, the easiest way to
just to get to the website and kind of go
from there that address.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Again, the Bridge Adaptive dot org.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Awesome, awesome stuff. You guys are doing amazing things, and
urge everyone listening to at least check out the Bridge
Adaptive dot org and learn more and volunteer, find a
way to be a part of this and continue to
help this grow. Victoria. Thank you so much for your time.
I know you're busy. It is certainly appreciated, and we'll
see on the sidelines is coming fall.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yes, I will if anyone give a shout and giveaway.
I'm most of the UC home games for most sports,
so hopefully meet you guys on the sideline.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Awesome awesome stuff that is a Victoria easily. This is
since e three sixty thanks to our friends at Novacare.
Look finding the time for physical therapy doesn't have to
be a challenge. Twenty three locations throughout Greater Cincinnati. Novacare
Rehabilitation makes it easy to get the care you need
where you need it, From from athletics at the University
of Cincinnati to average people looking to live life without paying.
Novacres experts have seen it all. Find a center near
you at novacare dot com. Today we'll be right back.
(08:20):
Plenty more to go hour three since e three sixty
thanks to Penn Station on ESPN fifteen thirty
Welcome back since e three to sixty moving along hour
number three thanks to Penn Station on ESPN fifteen thirty,
Cincinnati's sports station. Let's do this. Each week we get
a chance to talk to our good friends from Novacare
the University of Cincinnati. This week we get a first timer.
Victoria Heasley is at the University of Cincinnati and she
(00:21):
can actually be found on the sidelines during football season,
but also has some really really cool stuff going on
outside of just being an attending physician at UC in
the physical medicine and rehabilitation at sports medicine departments. She's
also really got some awesome stuff going on from the
adaptive sports side of things as well, and she's nice
enough to join us for a couple minutes today. Victoria,
(00:42):
how are you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I'm doing great. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
I don't think we've had a chance yet in these
segments to talk about the adaptive sports community and the
growing sports population within that. For those that don't know,
what is the adaptive sports side of things and how
prevalent is that now in Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Well, luckily, over the last several years, the adaptive sports
world here in our hometown is getting much bigger, and
I'm so happy to be a part of it. And
one of the big reasons I think we've been growing
a lot is because of the nonprofit, The Bridge Adaptive
Sports and Recreation. So I'm actually one of the co
founders and current president of the Bridge, and we really
(01:28):
have brought a lot of people together, a lot of
groups together, and a lot of teams together to spread
awareness and really just increase the number of opportunities for
people who want to participate in any type of sport.
You know, we don't like to be told no, No
one does, and so we really just came together because
we wanted to give people in our town here the
ability to try any sport or any recreation regardless of
(01:51):
what their abilities are, regardless of what type of equipment
they needed, and wanted to make it possible for them.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
That's the big thing, eliminating the barriers that sometimes get
labeled with the condition that maybe someone is dealing with.
But you mentioned from an equipment standpoint in knocking down
those barriers, how have you guys been able to go
about doing that in the length of time that the
Bridge has been up and running.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, So if anyone has seen it apt to sports
or maybe watch the Paralympics, you'll notice that a lot
of the athletes need really specialized equipment, and as you
would imagine, that's really expensive and it's a huge barrier.
And so one of the ways the Bridge wanted to
step in and kind of solve that problem is we
have a huge bank of equipment and we loan that
(02:39):
out to people, and we really just want people to
get out and try the sport and see if they
like it. And we wanted to do that for free
for anyone to see if they like it. And then
once they kind of identify which sport maybe they love
or they want to compete in or really get spend
a lot of the time, and then we can kind
of help them get maybe something more customizable piece of
equipment for them. But really just wanting to give all
(03:02):
of that equipment out, you know, even if it's if
we're modifying it on the go or making it work
for you, it's it's at least trying to get rid
of that barrier.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
What does that process look like for an athlete who
who may be going through obviously a difficult time or
wanting to learn more and figure out, Okay, what is
best for me, which sport am I able to pick up?
What does that process look like from the first time
you're meeting these athletes and getting them with the right
equipment and getting them into the right sport.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, honestly, a lot of it is awareness about the bridge,
whether you know, we're telling them when we are meeting
them in the clinic or in the hospital or you know,
we're shameless, and even if we see someone out in
you know, the grocery store. We just try to spread
the news about the bridge. And then for example this
summer through the huge calendar events all summer long, and
some of our events are called try it Days, which
(03:54):
is exactly what it is. Just you come out, you
try it, and maybe you try for example, adaptive mountain
biking and you love it. Maybe you try and like
not for me, that's fine, let's try adapt of golf.
So the next weekend and you know, just coming and
just being open to trying something, and it's always wonderful
to see the smiles. And then when people finally find
(04:15):
you know, that sport or that activity that they're like, yep,
this is for me, I want to keep doing this,
and then we really help them kind of succeed From
that standpoint too.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
It's incredible from a sports standpoint, just how many programs
and events that you guys have going on. It's really
limited to nothing. There is something that everyone can at
least give an opportunity to try. For you mentioned, all
of this doesn't come for free. There's a lot of
work that goes into this. From a volunteer standpoint, from
(04:44):
a donation standpoint, how are listeners able to get more
understanding into the Bridge and maybe even help from me
either a volunteer and again a donation standpoint as well, Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Thank you. I mean a lot of information is at
our website, the Bridge adaptive dot org or on our
social media. You know. I think one thing is, you know,
if anyone listening wants to come and just at least
see one of our events or volunteer, you know, we
need people from all backgrounds, from all expertises. You know,
even if you just don't mind coming and helping us
(05:21):
move boxes right or move equipment or help sign people
in along or even if you want to, like you know,
ride your bike along one of our athletes. Any expertise
is great from a volunteering standpoint, and just getting out
there and meeting the athletes and meeting and it's really hard.
It would kind of suck people in. From that standpoint,
I feel like once you see it, you just want
to keep coming back for more. And like, oh, I
(05:43):
don't know how we are a nonprofit. So yeah, we're
a nonprofit as you would imagine. So we're always fundraising
and looking for sponsorships and donations. So again, any all
of our resources are on the website, so pleading any
help is wonderful.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
From a UC standpoint, I know, I don't think it
was as prevalent when I was going to school at
U See, but I know that the adaptive community, even
on campus, has has continued to grow. Are what are
some of the adaptive sports that are currently happening on campus?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Oh? Yes, this was this last year. I'm so excited
to announce and I was one of the founders. So
because of all this community work that we have here
at the Bridge, Cincinnati was the next university ready, so
you see now has the next adaptive college sports program.
So there's less than twenty universities in the country actually
that offer college level adaptive sports, and so I'm so
(06:39):
happy to say, you see is one of them now
and so we have around six athletes this year, and
we have individualized sports. We have wheelchair tennants and then
track and field, and so our athletes have already been
able to compete out there in the country wearing the
bear Cats and which has been amazing. And we're you know,
continue group cruit athletes. We already have some recruits fits
(07:02):
coming fall, and we'll continue to expand and hopefully get
wheelchair basketball in the future too.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
This is this is absolutely awesome. So many good things
happening right here in our own community. One more time
for those listening for the Bridge, the easiest way to
just to get to the website and kind of go
from there that address.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Again, the Bridge Adaptive dot org.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Awesome, awesome stuff. You guys are doing amazing things, and
urge everyone listening to at least check out the Bridge
Adaptive dot org and learn more and volunteer, find a
way to be a part of this and continue to
help this grow. Victoria. Thank you so much for your time.
I know you're busy. It is certainly appreciated, and we'll
see on the sidelines is coming fall.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yes, I will if anyone give a shout and giveaway.
I'm most of the UC home games for most sports,
so hopefully meet you guys on the sideline.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Awesome awesome stuff that is a Victoria easily. This is
since e three sixty thanks to our friends at Novacare.
Look finding the time for physical therapy doesn't have to
be a challenge. Twenty three locations throughout Greater Cincinnati. Novacare
Rehabilitation makes it easy to get the care you need
where you need it, From from athletics at the University
of Cincinnati to average people looking to live life without paying.
Novacres experts have seen it all. Find a center near
you at novacare dot com. Today we'll be right back.
(08:20):
Plenty more to go hour three since e three sixty
thanks to Penn Station on ESPN fifteen thirty
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