By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
Though it's definitely a healthy work out, Hines' goal has been a spot on the United States Hand Crank team and a chance to compete in the Paraolympic World Games held in Altenstadt, Germany from August 4 to 12.
And, when she placed second at Nationals this past month in Elgin, Ill, that desired spot on the team was there for her. After she finished the race, Hines said, she still wasn't sure she had made the 10-person team. But, after two days of waiting, it was final.
Helene Hines would be one of three women representing the United States and the only one representing New York State.
I was so excited, Hines said. You don't know anything is definite until you go to Nationals. This is great.
To cover the cost of the trip, the Long Beach Lions Club is sponsoring Hines 100 percent.
It's an excellent cause and she is a wonderful person, president of the Long Beach Lions Club Bob Carroll said. She was a runner, a walker, a boxer and now is involved in this. We wish her the best of luck and hope she can bring the gold back to Long Beach.
Though Hines suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, it doesn't keep her from completing her regimen six days a week. And when she isn't busy working out, Hines teaches an M.S. water aerobic class twice a week at the South Shore J.C.C.
Since the teams will be housed on a military base, Hines will make the trip alone, leaving behind her husband George and her baby Kyler. And while she prepares by cranking up hill after hill, she said it's not that easy.
It's so hard when you are in the hand crank, Hines said. You are at a 90 degree angle. When you are going up those hills, it's not a little hill, they are long. The long hills are really tough.
Hines became involved in hand cranking after she couldn't run anymore. Part of the Achilles Track Club, someone mentioned that she should try it.
For five months I had nothing to do, she said. I tried it and I loved it.
For the last three years, Hines has competed in the Boston and the New York Marathons in the Ambulatory Disabled Division. For the past two, she competed in the Los Angeles Marathon. And each 26.2 mile competition has finished the same way
