Disabled Veterans Ski the Rocky Mountains

WASHINGTON – More than 350 disabled military veterans are taking on the challenge of skiing the Rocky Mountains at the 18^th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colo., April 4-9.

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.  

This year, for the first time, more than 20 veterans from the current combat operation in Iraq will attend.  Veterans from operations in Afghanistan, who participated in earlier clinics, will also attend.

“VA’s national rehabilitation special events help veterans to reach their full potential and achieve independence,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi.  “We are honored to welcome veterans from the war on terrorism to this year’s event.”  

Updates, photos, and news releases about these and all participating veterans will be posted on the Winter Sports Clinic web site during the week at www.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2004 under “Participant Information,” listed by each veteran’s last name or home state.

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.

At the clinic, disabled veterans learn Alpine and Nordic skiing and are introduced to a variety of other activities and sports, such as rock climbing, scuba diving, trap shooting, horseback riding, snowmobiling and sled hockey.  

The U.S. Secret Service also teaches self-defense to participants who are wheelchair users or visually impaired.

“The clinic offers disabled veterans a chance to do more adventurous things than most able-bodied people ever do,” said Joseph Avellone, former Marine and a quadriplegic from Belleville, Ill., now planning to attend his fourth Winter Sports Clinic. “It’s not about competition.  We are there to push ourselves to try new things and grow in confidence, cheering for each other.”

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.  This experience has been described by participants as “miracles on a mountainside.”

“The Disabled American Veterans is proud to have co-sponsored the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports clinic since 1991,” said DAV National Commander Allan W. Bowers.  “The clinic is a wonderful example of DAV’s ongoing commitment to the brave men and women disabled in service to our nation.  It is also an excellent example of partnering with VA to deliver the services disabled veterans have earned, and to support their rehabilitation efforts.” 

Actress Bo Derek, National Honorary Chairperson for VA’s National Rehabilitation Special Events, will attend the clinic again this year to meet the veterans and bring visibility to their courage and abilities.  On Friday, April 9, “Race Day” at the event, she will join Secretary Principi, Commander Bowers and other VA and DAV leaders, presenting medals to the veterans as they complete their runs.  Also at the clinic this year will be newly appointed Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Gordon H. Mansfield, and Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cooper, VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits.

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.

For more information about the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, or to follow events as they happen during the week, visit the clinic web site at www.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2004.

#   #   #