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VA
Teaches Disabled
Veterans to Ski
WASHINGTON – Approximately 350 disabled veterans will
ski the Rocky Mountains
at the 17th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports
Clinic in Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colo., March 31 to April
5.
This rehabilitation program is open to all U.S. military
veterans with spinal cord injury or disease, certain
neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations, visual
impairments or other disabilities, who receive care at any
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility.
Sponsored by VA and
the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Clinic is hosted
by the Grand Junction, Colo., VA Medical Center and VA’s
Rocky Mountain Network.
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At the Clinic,
disabled veterans will learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic
skiing, and will be introduced to a variety of other adaptive
activities and sports, such as rock climbing, scuba diving,
snowmobiling and sled hockey. The U.S. Secret Service will also teach self-defense.
At the event, participants will learn adaptive
Alpine and Nordic skiing, with the assistance of Challenge
Aspen, an adaptive ski program. They will also be introduced
to a variety of adaptive activities and sports, including
rock climbing, scuba diving, snowshoeing and sled hockey,
plus a self-defense class taught by the U.S. Secret Service.
"VA is committed to providing disable veterans the
rehabilitation opportunities they need to lead fulfilling and
rewarding lives," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Anthony J. Principi. "Their courage to overcome life's
obstacles and soar above their physical limitations is an
inspiration to all of us."
Known as "Miracles on a Mountainside", the
National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic shows that
the lives of disabled veterans can be changed forever when
they discover the extraordinary challenges they can overcome.
"The Winter Sports Clinic conveys our compassionate commitment
to never forget the battles that our military men and women
have fought and continue to fight as they overcome their
disabilities," said DAV National Commander Edward R.
Heath, Sr. Since 1991, DAV has co-sponsored the event with
VA.
As National Honorary Chairperson
of VA’s National Rehabilitation Special Events, actress
Bo Derek shares this commitment, helping to spread the good
news about VA's rehabilitation programs and bringing
visibility to the courageous veterans who participate in the
Clinic.
VA is a recognized leader in rehabilitation,
with recreational therapy programs at each of its 162 hospitals.
DAV is a nonprofit, congressionally chartered veterans service
organization, with a membership of more than one million wartime
disabled veterans.
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For further
information, contact Annie Tuttle, VA Public Affairs
Coordinator, Winter Sports Clinic, at (970) 923-2000 ext. 375 or after April 8 at (909) 422-3193.
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