WASHINGTON, DC -- More than 350 severely disabled veterans will take on the challenge of skiing the great Rocky Mountains at the 15th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, at Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colo., March 25-30.
Sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Clinic is hosted by the Grand Junction, Colo., VA Medical Center, VA's Rocky Mountain Network and Challenge Aspen.
It is open to all U.S. military veterans with spinal-cord injury or disease, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments or other disabilities.
Participants will learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing. They will also be introduced to a variety of adaptive activities and sports, including rock climbing, scuba diving and sledge hockey, plus a self-defense class taught by the U.S. Secret Service.
"I am proud of this Clinic and what it offers for disabled veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "Recreation and sports play an important role in rehabilitation treatment. Programs like this are a showcase for the successes of veterans and an inspiration to those who witness the accomplishments of the participants."
"Many of these veterans have spent months in hospitals, convinced their days as active, vibrant individuals are over," DAV National Commander Armando C. Albarran added. "Some may have been told they will never walk again."
"Yet there they are in the majestic Colorado Rockies learning how to ski. The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is proof that extraordinary things can be achieved when you're prepared to scale mountains to achieve your goal. The lives of disabled veterans are forever changed when they discover the extraordinary things they can achieve. That's why it's called Miracles on a Mountainside," the DAV commander said.
Actress Bo Derek will attend this year"s Clinic to meet the veterans and bring attention to their courage and abilities. Running on the beach with her beaded corn-rows and bathing suit in 1979s smash hit "10," Bo Derek entered the annals of American pop culture. Today, her passion and compassion for animals has led her into the business world, and proceeds from her line of pet products are donated to Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs that greatly enhance the quality of life for these people.
VA is a recognized leader in rehabilitation, with recreational therapy programs at each of its 172 medical centers. DAV is a nonprofit, congressionally chartered veterans service organization with a membership of more than one million war-time disabled veterans. Challenge Aspen, a non-profit Aspen based organization whose motto is "making possibilities for people with disabilities," will assist the Clinic organizers in providing more than 1,000 lessons in downhill skiing for veterans with profound disabilities.
