ANNOUNCEMENT
Villages residents try out Segways during fundraiser for injured vets
By NICOLE SACK, DAILY SUN
THE VILLAGES - July 30, 2009 - Some adventurous Villagers strapped on a helmet and boarded Segways on Wednesday morning at Lake Miona Recreation Center to have a good time while helping injured veterans.
More than 30 riders took part in the event, which was a fundraiser for the Disability Rights Advocates for Technology Segs4Vets program. Segs4Vets provides Segways to military personnel injured in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Since its inception, the group has distributed more than 350 Segways to injured soldiers.
The Segway Riders Club of The Villages approached The Villages Recreation Department with the fundraiser proposal.
Debbie Hurtt, recreation facility manager, said that, in addition to supporting a good cause, Wednesday’s Segway tours are another observance of National Recreation and Parks Month. She said the recreation department has been offering events throughout July. So when the club approached her with the idea, she thought it would be a perfect fit.
“We’re just very pleased that the community is so supportive,” Hurtt said. “We sold out the event.”
Among those who took a spin on the Segways were sisters Peggy Ashley, Jo Townsend and Margie Mauldin. Ashley, who lives in the Village of Amelia, and Mauldin, a Village of Poinciana resident, said they wanted to do something fun on the last day of their sister’s visit.
“Do you think I could chase cattle on one of those?” joked Townsend, a Texan.
Residents paid a $10 donation for the 30-minute, guided Segway tours. The event, which could accommodate 30 riders, sold out quickly. And since it is difficult to ignore a parking lot full of the machines zipping around, residents who had not been able to reserve a tour spot were able to take a 10-minute test run for $5.
Tom Salerno was excited to get started on the tour.
“How often do you get a chance to do something like this?” the Village of Bonita resident asked, adding, “and you can’t beat the price.”
Dave Holzapfel, owner of Mount Dora-based Segway of Central Florida, brought the machines needed for the event.
Holzapfel said the most difficult part of riding a Segway is getting to trust it. He said balancing is achieved by five gyroscopes within the Segway, which are constantly adjusting to keep riders centered.
Holzapfel said the average cost of a Segway is $5,300. He said the machines, which debuted to the public in 2001, have a top speed of 12 mph and can travel 24 miles on a single charge.
Holzapfel supplies the Segways for the 90 members of the Segway Riders Club of The Villages.
“I think it is important to note that you don’t have to own one to be a part of the club,” Gretchen Goldsworthy of the Village of Calumet Grove said. “And when we rent them, we actually get a much better price because we are part of the club.”
Goldsworthy, who joined the club in February, said her initial interest in riding Segways was spurred by her existing love of bicycle riding and she thought this would be another interesting way to go sightseeing.
Ardy Schiller, who lives in the Village of Santo Domingo, said the uniqueness of the vehicle drew her to it.
“I just like to try things that are different,” said Schiller, who joined the club in June.
Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved: The Villages Daily Sun
Contact:
Nicole Sack is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9245, or nicole.sack@thevillagesmedia.com.
Information on The Segway Riders Club of The Villages - Contact Tom or Barbara Davis: 352-446-4984 or segwayriders@hotmail.com
Segway of Central Florida - Dave Holzapfel, 352-383-9900 email: segwayofcentralflorida@yahoo.com
Visit the Segs4Vets website
"Changing Your World, One Segway at a Time"