Chris Lesanko.com

Just wanted to wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy new year early this year…….. this upcoming year, I believe is going to be huge.  First steps is progressing rather quickly.  The two fundraisers that we had raised almost $10,000.  We are currently doing one as we speak, it is a raffle- filled with wonderful prizes.  Let me know if you are interested.  The biggest news-a gait trainer was donated, which is worth around $25,000.  Thanks to telemiracle……….. I will probably be heading off to California in January or February, to take our trainer down to get certified and trained.  Hopefully before April, we will have a facility that will be operational.

My training is going well-Owen Carlson who is a really good friend from high school is the trainer that we are taking to get certified.  He has been working with me for the past few months.  I have been experiencing a lot of nerve pain, which has not been pleasant-but hopefully it is from increase in progress from the muscle stimulation….. I am also trying hard to try to finish my class that I am enrolled in.  It has been a struggle because it is so bloody boring…..

Anyways go to www.fswcregina.ca and check out the website–

I do apologize again for my late response and update, I have been extremely busy over the past month and a half with various events and tasks regarding first steps wellness Center.  This is a nonprofit organization that I have founded, we signed a provider agreement with Project Walk-November of 2008, also have established a board of directors and now we are looking for sponsorships, donations and partnerships.

We are having a fundraiser on October 30 at the TURRVY Center in Regina SK….. this is the big fundraiser that we are hoping to raise enough money to open up the doors and to have our trainers certified and trained from Project Walk.  If you are interested in more information please contact me directly at 306-584-2677

We also have a fundraiser in September that raised over $2000.  I really do appreciate everybody supports and trying to make this dream a reality too many people with a spinal cord injury.

We have also had discussions and meetings with different health organizations and most recently, a very motivating and productive meeting with the University of Regina-kinesiology department…….

As for myself, I am still plugging away with my training program.  I have seen some dramatic improvements in my core stability and my stabilization.  Shoulder muscle mass is also improving with a few different exercises that we have incorporated into the program.

Labor Day weekend I was coaching Lacrosse at nationals again this summer, unfortunately, it was a rather disappointing outing this year. I am still taking courses through correspondence and I am looking at going back to the University for the winter semester to try to take some more classes.  I have been finding lately, trying to stay motivated to try to do online courses is very difficult to do because of all the other activities and events that are taking place now.

Anyways, that is all for now…… make sure everybody goes to www.fswcregina.ca and look at the progress that is happening so far with trying to establish a Project walk provider facility in Regina.

I was very fortunate to make it out to this year’s golf tournament in Bracebridge.  We managed to fly in a couple days before the tournament and went downtown Toronto.  Bracebridge is a couple hours away from Toronto-needless to say I think my brother lost a few days of his life with all of the stressed driving.  Bracebridge is a beautiful country.  Once leaving the metropolis area, it was very peaceful and relaxing.

The night before the tournament I got to hang out with a bunch of people from bishops-where I went to school.  It was very good to see each one of them.  It was too long of a time since our last meeting.  Needless to say he morning came fairly quickly and with a lot of rain.  From four o’clock in the morning until seven o’clock at night it rained and rained and rained.  It did not stop the golfers from golfing.  As there was a little bit over 60 golfers attending this year’s golf tournaments in Bracebridge.

It was absolutely fantastic to finally get to meet everybody that has been supporting myself and Mary for the past three years.  I would just like to give  Mary another huge thank you for putting this event on.  She has been pretty much a one-woman army with this event-raising close to $30,000 combined over the three years- and is looking for more volunteers to help with next year’s golf tournament.  So please if you are interested contact her ASAP.

Thank you to everybody that attended this year’s golf tournaments.  Everybody really made me feel at home and I really really really enjoyed meeting everybody and  everybody from school once again.. if it wasn’t for all of you guys coming out and supporting me-this tournament would not be possible and my road to recovery would be a lot slower…….. thank you to everybody and for all of the sponsors and prize donations that were given.

Thank you to all of those individuals that bid on a silent auction price………..

I guess I’d better mention that DREW POLLOCK got a hole-in-one on PAR 4………….. I still think he is lying but I guess he has four witnesses—– congratulations buddy……

The grand total was $9,300 that was raised this year—-thanks again a million to everybody.

I just wanted to say thanks to everybody for attending the third annual CLGC Saskatchewan golf tournament.  We have a record number of golfers this year-23 teams.  Could not ask for a better day.  A huge thank you goes out to all of the tournament organizers— mastermind of the event Brian Ganong.  Thank you to the two guest speakers for sharing their stories and making it a rememberable night.  Thank you so much for the business and individuals for providing a sponsorship and  numerous prizes for silent auction and for each individual at the golf tournament.  Thank you to the golf course/facility for letting us eat all of your food and drink all of your booze………….. and I guess golfing as well.  Last but not least– thank you to all of the individuals that made it out- if you were golfing or eating food at the banquet.  If It was not for each and everyone of you-the road to recovery would be a little bit slower– thanks for your support and friendship.

This year’s golf tournament raised $8,300……………..wwwooowwwwww 

we have already begun planning for next year’s golf tournament– I always mention that we will try to make next years more enjoyable.  I know already, we are on the right path…

Bracebridge golf tournaments is this Saturday.  I am flying out to Ontario on Thursday.  This will be the first time in three years that I will be attending this golf tournament– I really cannot wait to meet everybody that has been supporting me. I will be staying in Toronto/Ontario until Monday. Also it is a very good coincidence that the AMP energy contest is also on this Saturday.  I will be around on Sunday to celebrate with the group when they win the hundred thousand dollars. Below is some information on the process that each of you individuals need to do this Saturday, June 20 at 830 Eastern time.  Click on the following link—-Bishops is what everyone needs to vote for….

http://www.facebook.com/AMPenergycanada?sid=1832888daa4dad4889a08863831ff52b&ref=search

Here are the important times that should be noted and not forgetten:

The performances, which will be streamed LIVE on facebook, will start at 7:30pm eastern time on Saturday, June 20th.

Immediately following the performances at 8:15pm the polls open and everyone can vote for our band via facebook. The voting period is only between 8:15 and 8:45pm-EASTERN TIME so don’t miss your chance!!

To watch and vote on the performances you will need to sign into facebook and go to the AMP Energy Canada page.  Just remember whoever wins the contest-will win $100,000.  This group of great gentleman are willing to donate $40,000 in my recovery fund if you help them succeed in winning this contest…….PPPPPPPPLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE make this a reality.

You must have a face book account to vote-please take the five minutes to sign up—

On behalf of myself, the band members, we thank you all for your support. We will probably be sending out little reminders throughout the week and definitely the day of, so just bare with us!

Thanks again,

Just one month away before the golf tournament in Emerald Park starts-May 30…….. a lot of work has been done and much more is needed to try to make this year’s golf tournaments one step above last year’s success…….. if you are looking for registration sheets please send me e-mail to  brianganong@sasktel.net

Bracebridge is tournaments is starting to fill up as well as some generous prizes have been donated…… I am looking forward to making that trip this year to meet everybody.  Take a look at the website for more details http://www.lesanko.muskokahighlands.com/ 

Other than getting everything ready for the golf tournament.  I managed to make my way to Edmonton to visit my brother and sister-in-law for Easter.  It was definitely good to go and see them again as well as my uncle Dave.  I managed to watch a Edmonton rush lacrosse team— I had a couple of friends on each team as well.  It was good to see a professional lacrosse once again, it was the first time since my accident.

I managed to get myself fairly ill this past Sunday I have been slowly recuperating.  My training really takes a hard blow when I get ill… these next couple of weeks I will have to try to get back on track.

The other course that I enrolled myself into isn’t as interesting as I thought it was– business finance course.  Oh well, only a few more classes last until I get my little piece of paper that will be hanging on the wall or sitting in my desk.

Summertime is quickly approaching, I will be coaching lacrosse once again in the city of Regina.  I have volunteered to become the vice president of Regina Field Lacrosse.  I will also be happy the role of offensive head coach of this years Saskatchewan under 19 provincial lacrosse team……..

Starting the project provider facility has been a struggle but there has been some leeway taking place lately.  Once the website is up-which will be very shortly-I will be happy to share this with you.

Make sure that everybody else for my friends in the ROCK BAND competition from Bishops University.  They are going to make a generous donation to my rehabilitation fund if they take the grand prize.  Here is more information-

 Amp Energy Canada has marketed a competition across all Universities in Canada with a final grand CASH prize. We entered the competition and formed the group ‘Chemical Toilet.’ We are four Bishop’s Lacrosse Players, Alex Inch (Kitchener Jr. A), Mark Kingston (Oakville Jr. B), Jackson Gair (Barrie OLA Major) and Billy Laidler (Burnaby Jr. A) and already won the preliminary competition on Bishops campus. We are NOW in the Quarter Finals with 5 other Universities. Should we collect the most votes they will move on to the semi finals against 9 other finalists. The top 4 vote collecting bands will be flown to Toronto to compete for $100 000 CASH. The winners are based 70% on online voting while 30% is based on performance. We ask all of the BISHOP’S and LACROSSE community to support us in our attempt to win the grand prize.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=59331060977&ref=mf Everybody can vote once a day-it starts on May 6 or go to the Amp energy website 

Please contact Brian Ganong to register.
Phone: 531-9135
E-mail: brianganong@sasktel.net
Send Cheques to -
Brian Ganong
2144 Halifax St.
Regina,SK
S4P1T9

Money raised will go towards Chris’s recovery needs. Chris continues to work very hard in his exercise program and results are showen every year.

Contact Brian if you are interested in becoming a hole sponsor or would like to donate any prizes.

Just want to wish everybody a happy belated new year……

Now that the holidays are finally over, hopefully I can start to burn off a lot of the turkey that was consumed over the break.  I have slowly started to get back into a good routine with exercising.  I had my final examination for my small business management class on January 13…. I really do hope everything went well.  I believe I only have five classes left to get my degree—-finally

Things are progressing well with trying to open up a facility in Regina.  We are currently working on a website which hopefully will be up and running within this week.  We are trying to set a couple of fundraisers and are looking into different government grants that we may be accepted for. It is a large sum of money that we are looking for……..

I will definitely keep everyone posted on how things go,

Just wanted to fire off a quick message to all of you-wishing you guys nothing but the best in the upcoming year.. this has definitely been a very busy year for myself.

March to May-Carlsbad California attended Project walk

June 14-golf tournament at White city

June until August-assistant coach for the under 16 provincial lacrosse team

August 2-big brother’s wedding

November 4-6- travel to Toronto to attend a spinal cord injury conference

June until present-working on establishing a Project walk provider facility in Regina

That was a couple of the major things that went on for me in 2008

Send me off a quick message and let me know how things are going.  Have a safe and happy holiday.. thanks to everybody again for all of the support.

It has definitely been a busy past 2 1/2 months…… I guess the biggest news is, we have established a nonprofit organization called first steps wellness Center.  We also signed the agreement with Project walk-to become the first ever provider facility in Canada.  This facility will concentrate on consistent and intense exercise programs for individuals with spinal cord injuries.  There still is a lot of work to be done before the doors opened.  We are currently in the process of developing a website for this facility as well.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a spinal cord convention in Toronto.  I wanted to see if there was anything like this in Canada already established.  Although spinal cord injuries have been around for decades and decades, there really wasn’t that much research and science into this area.  It is said that 90% of what we know about spinal cord injuries has been established in the last two decades.  First steps wellness Center is light-years ahead from any other Center.  Although many researchers are trying to help, they are very narrow minded in their own studies too often grasp the overall picture.  First steps wellness Center will incorporate everything that we possibly can to make it easier on individuals with spinal cord injuries.  I established some really good contacts which will hopefully help us down the road.

This project has kept me rather busy, I am still trying to finish off one of my online correspondence classes-which happens to be small business management.  Exercising is going fairly well, but I have encountered some problems with keeping a good routine because of conflicting schedules.  I am also currently working with a female who has a biomechanics degree.  She has proven to be very beneficial in my exercising routines to try to help me with different postural positions and muscle correction.

It is good to see that my Boston Bruins are finally on top-I believe they are second.  Do not know what my plans are for Christmas, probably head back to the farm and maybe had up to Edmonton to see my brother and my uncle.  I want to get back involved with wheelchair rugby.  Hopefully over the winter, I will have enough time to get back on the court.

I will keep you guys posted on the progress with the facility and hopefully next time I provide a updates we will have a website up and running.’

That is all for now………

Once again I do apologize for the very long delay in the update.  Definitely had one of the busiest summers I ever had.  My oldest brother got married in Saskatoon on August 2.  Followed by one of my best friends wedding in Yorkton the following week after which I was the master of ceremonies for.  Also all throughout summer I was the assistant coach of the under 16 provincial lacrosse team.  We had practice almost every other weekend in the summer and we travel to Edmonton on Labor Day weekend.  Things did not go that while as we placed six out of seven, at least we beat Manitoba.

Things have been rather busy with trying to establish a certified Project walk facility in Regina.  The first general board meeting is on October 3, after this meeting hopefully we will be able to have some progress.  If everything goes well hopefully before the beginning of next summer of facility should be established.  There still is a lot of work to be done.

I was still taking a course through correspondence, unfortunately my computer crashed and I lost my third and half of my last assignment.  Luckily I got a extension and hopefully I will be able to get it done before November.

As for my recovery goes, it has been rather frustrating throughout the summer because of everybody’s busy schedules my training routine was messed up for the longest time.  Also with different events that take place weddings, funerals, nationals etc. it takes time away from my training.  I am starting to get back into the swing of things.  Overall, upper body strength has improved which has allowed me to do more things on my own.  My mother finally made her way back to the farm after a couple years of staying with me.  I have been doing a large majority of my workouts standing up in the spending frame.  The benefits are definitely visible in my core stability and also the muscle mass in my legs.  Hopefully I will be able to make my way down to Project walk in the beginning of next year.

Anyways I should probably get going, I hope everything is going well with everyone else.  I cannot wait for the NHL season to start.  Go Bruins