Hello MWABA,
Join us for Hiking, Tandem Biking, Tennis, Beep Baseball and Blind Soccer, October Book Club, Blind Athletes Day, Oktoberfest Party, and more! And last call for the Pumpkin Ride!
Hike in Rock Creek Park
· Join us for our next hike, meeting on Sunday, September 27th at 10 a.m. at Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, 2401 Tilden St. NW, DC. The hike will be about 3 miles and we might see horses! Sign up here: https://forms.gle/EMnXyvdjyjdPiztbA
Tandem Biking
· Sign up by Tuesday night at 8 p.m. for our Thursday night Eastern Market ride and our Friday night Bethesda ride: https://forms.gle/YAdsEQbKSpZABg2Y7 Also, sign up for our October rides, including a goodbye ride for Azka on Saturday, October 3rd at 11:30 a.m. from Bethesda. We’ll do a 30-mile round-trip ride and stop for lunch at Old Angler’s Inn.
· Sign up ASAP if you’d like to do the Great Pumpkin Ride with MWABA on October 24th in Warrenton, Virginia, we could use more captains for the ride. https://forms.gle/nZQRsmqR53YEzpJx8. Also sign up for the Cider Ride on November 7th and a 50-mile ride that MWABA is organizing on November 14th.
· MWABA’s short- and long-sleeved jerseys have arrived! Email mwaba.inc if you’d like to buy one or more.
Goalball
· There is no goalball practice on September 26th. The next practice will be on October 3rd.
Tennis
· MWABA is partnering with the Tennis Alliance of Anne Arundel County to host a free blind and low vision tennis class on September 26th at the Columbia Heights Community Center, 1480 Girard Street NW, DC. See the attached flyer for more details and register here: September 2026 Tennis Classes Registration
Beep Baseball and Blind Soccer 10/1
· MWABA is partnering with George Mason University for an Adaptive Sports Day on October 1st. Check in is at 5 p.m. and the Beep Baseball and Blind Soccer Learn to Play Clinic will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Beep Baseball – Blind Soccer – Mason Recreation
October Book Club
· Join us for a lively discussion and maybe a libation or two.
· Sunday, October 4 at 1pm
· Location: TBD
· This month’s book is Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, available on Bard #DB 119654
· Sign up here: Book Club Sign Up Form
Blind Athletes Day – 10/17
· MWABA is co-sponsoring a Blind Athletes Day at the Columbia Heights Community Center on October 17th. Sign up here: mwaba.inc if you’re a tandem captain interested in riding from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oktoberfest Party in November!
· Date Change – Join MWABA for Oktoberfest in Vienna on Sunday, November 1st at 3:00 pm. Please note that this event was previously scheduled for Saturday, October 17th. At 5:00, you can show off your strength in a beer stein holding contest. We’ll serve bratwurst with German sides and dessert, along with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. please bring your favorite German beer to share, another beverage that you enjoy, or a $10 contribution to MWABA. Please sign up here if you plan to attend: https://forms.gle/q41XNg2g6gNxAMQa9
Save the Date for a 5K and 10K Turkey Trot
· Bishop Events and the 2026 South Run organizers will be teaming with MWABA this Thanksgiving for their 5K and 10K foot races. Proceeds from this year’s event will be gifted to MWABA. Let’s show our appreciation with a strong showing from MWABA. Start training now to run/walk, or plan to come out and cheer on our runners. The races will be held on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday November 26th. The start and finish lines will be at the South Run RecCenter, 7550 Reservation Dr. in Springfield VA. More details will be given in later newsletters.
Other Activities
· NFB of Virginia Convention – Join Blind and Low-Vision Virginians in Herndon This October. Registration is now open for the 2026 National Federation of the Blind of Virginia State Convention, taking place October 22–25 at the Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport in Herndon. Blind and low-vision people from across Virginia will come together for a weekend of learning, networking, technology, employment and independence discussions, advocacy, social activities, and opportunities to connect with others who understand blindness firsthand. You do not need to already be a member of the National Federation of the Blind to attend. Learn more about the convention, register, and find hotel information here: https://nfbv.org/convention
· Braille Rally October 24th at the Winery at Bull Run. The MG Car Club of Washington D.C. will conduct its traditional "Braille Rally" for visually impaired students and adults next month. This event consists of pairing a visually impaired navigator, who uses braille (or large print or other alternative instructions) to navigate, with the driver of a classic MG sports car or other classic car, over a route at the Manassas Battlefield. The drive is punctuated by questions about the Battlefield, the Civil War, and other "trivia" items. There is no cost to participate. It starts and finishes at the Winery at Bull Run (which is immediately adjacent to the Battlefield) and lunch is provided after completion of the drive. They also welcome visually impaired students and community members who want to attend but do NOT want to participate in the driving portion of the event. If you are hesitant to do the road going part but would like to come out to experience the vintage cars (including sitting in one for a photo opportunity, or going for a short ride inside the vineyard) and have lunch, you are invited to attend. This event is oriented toward both students and adults. Parents are welcome as well. There is no online sign up – if you would like to attend just email Tom Renda (thomasdrenda) or call/text (410-804-7017) with the number of people in your party and your preference for braille or other instructions for the driving portion of the event. They can help with travel to and from the event. And if you know of anyone who might like to attend, please forward this message to them. The Braille Rally is more enjoyable when they have robust participation.
If you have news or an activity you would like to submit to be included in an upcoming newsletter, please send it to: mwaba.inc.
Thanks and see you out there!
Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA)
Sports and fun for everyone! https://gomwaba.org
September 2026 Blind Tennis Flyer – Tennis Alliance of Anne Arundel County – Final (1).docx