From Disaboom press release:DENVER and NEW YORK -- Disaboom, the online community for people with disabilities, will sponsor hip-hop group 4 Wheel City's "Welcome 2 Reality Tour," a seven-city tour beginning on October 22 in Orlando, Fla., and wrapping up in New York City on November 12. 4 Wheel City members include rapper Namel "Tapwaterz" Norris and music producer Rick "Rickfire" Velasquez.
The tour will consist of both musical performances and speaking engagements to build awareness about disability issues. Both Norris and Velasquez, along with their manager Gary Delamothe, announce the tour today from New York's City Hall in conjunction with the Mayor's Office fifth annual Disability Mentoring Day.
"Disaboom is excited and honored to be a Sponsor of the 'Welcome 2 Reality Tour.' The members of 4 Wheel City are inspirations not only to the disability community, but to the larger community as a whole," says Dr. Glen House, founder of Disaboom.
Norris and Velasquez both lost their ability to walk after sustaining injuries from gun violence. Their tour is an effort to inform, empower and inspire the disability community, while educating youth about the dangers of illegal guns and gun violence. The wheelchair duo calls their act "rap therapy."
"Namel and Rick's passion for life, music and Disaboom's motto of 'living forward' continue to inspire audiences nationwide. Their story and their messages of hope through 'rap therapy' should be heard by all," says House.
"We are deeply grateful that Disaboom believes in us and supports our message," says Namel Norris. "We also give extra special thanks to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and MOPD Commissioner Matthew Sapolin, as well as AAPD
and its global Disability Mentoring Day program, because without them this couldn't be possible. They all opened the door of opportunity for us to be here."
"4 Wheel City has an important message to share -- even more important is the way it is delivered," says Commissioner Matthew Sapolin. "Namel and Rick have dedicated themselves completely to spreading awareness about disability issues and encouraging kids to make the right decisions."
Throughout the tour, Disaboom will provide fans with an insider's view of the "Welcome 2 Reality Tour" through the eyes of the group, as both Namel and Rick document their on-the-road experiences and observations in their blog on http://www.disaboom.com/ at: http://www.disaboom.com/Blogs/4_Wheel_City/Default.aspx.Tour Schedule:
- 10/22 and 10/24 - Orlando, FL - Orlando Rehabilitation
- 10/25 and 10/27 - Atlanta GA - Jonesboro High School
- 10/29 and 10/30 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Community High School
- 10/30 and 11/02 - Washington, DC - Walter Reed / VSA Arts
- 11/3 and 11/5 - Philadelphia, PA - Temple Univ./Magee Rehabilitation
- 11/6 and 11/8 - West Orange, NJ -- Kessler Rehabilitation
- 11/10 and 11/12 - New York City - Mount Sinai
