DISABLED SPORTS HOSTING WOUNDED WARRIOR SUMMER SPORTS CAMP

Disabled Sports USA Far West

June 7-11, 2011

Sacramento, CA

Honoring Wounded Warriors

Disabled in the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Wounded Warrior Sports Rehabilitation Camp, June 7-11

Their Spirit Inspires Dinner, Friday, June 10

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This event celebrates the accomplishments of Disabled Sports USA Far West, our participants, volunteers and honored guests. The "Their Spirit Inspires" Dinner is the culmination of a four-day event highlighting the abilities of people with disabilities and the powerful positive health and confidence building effects of our programs.

The week starts with a Sports Rehabilitation Camp for 25 soldiers and marines disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will receive specialized instruction in waterskiing, whitewater rafting, paddle sports, adapted cycling and sled hockey. This program is designed as part of their therapy and re-integration into the community.

Please join us in celebrating the abilities of our honored guests. For more information, please visit our website at www.disabledsports.net.

"If I Can Do This, I Can Do Anything!"

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DISABLED SPORTS WARRIOR SPIRIT AWARD

I was privileged to spend the week with the Wounded Warriors during our Ability Celebration and I saw first hand the healing and the growth both physically and mentally that your support makes happen. Most of the Wounded Warriors who attend our events are still on active duty and still in the military hospital. The doctors and rehabilitation staff view participation in our sports rehabilitation camps as an important part of the rehab process.

I was deeply touched at the Bash when I gave Trey the Warrior Spirit Award for his determination to adapt and overcome. He lost a leg to a rocket propelled grenadea a few months ago and nearly lost both legs. His other wounds hadn’t healed enough for him to try a prosthesis yet so he was in a wheelchair

With us he learned to monoski, and it was truly a miracle on the mountain. He told me that his mom cried when he called her to tell her he had skied. I thought he would make a short, eloquent speech when I gave him the award. He cried. Couldn’t talk. His fiancé said, "He never cries."

Those were tears of joy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISABLED SPORTS BEYOND ABILITY AWARD

At our annual Ability Bash  on March 26th I presented an award to an outstanding individual who exemplifies the motto of Disavled Sports USA, "If I can do this, I can do anything". It is given to individuals who exhibit unusual determination.

The Beyond Ability Award went to Jake Gibbons. Jake worked in Greenland and Antartica setting up base camps for scientists. Two winters ago he got caught out in a storm and was written off for dead by his team. But Jake survived and made it back to the rest of the crew. However, frostnite took both of his legs and an arm.

When I met Jake he was in pretty bad shape both physically and mentally. Of course, I encouraged him and tried my best to help him come to terms with his situation. I got him to go up to the school for a ski lesson. The last two months Jake has been a member of our High Performance Team, learning to race on two prosthetic legs. Recently, he went to an elementary school with me. We showed the kids our artificial legs and Jake showed them how his hook works.

Jake is going to be just fine, Thank you.

 

WOUNDED WARRIORS ARRIVE AT DISABLED SPORTS

We are all excited at Disabled Sports. Tomorrow our Ability Celebration begins with the arrival of soldiers and marines disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are hosting them for a winter sports camp at Alpine Meadows Resort and other venues in Tahoe. They'll receive ski and snowboard lessons and have the opportunity to try another Paralympic sport, sled hockey. It's all designed as part of their rehabilitation and reintegration into our communities.

On Friday we'll have twenty-five teams of four donors running a fun race in support of our event. The Ability Challenge couples each team with a disabled skier and each has a Wounded warrior as an honorary team member. At the end of the day a flag lowering ceremony will be conducted as we observe a moment of silence to honor our fallen warriors. The flag will be presented to the parents of an 82nd Airborne soldier who lost his life in Afghanistan.

On Saturday night the 17th Annual Ability Bash will be held in the main lodge at Alpine Meadows Resort. This is one of the regions premier fundraising events which includes a silent auction, raffle, dinner and dancing!

For more information: www.disabledsports.net

AL AND RENEE TWO DISABLED SPORTS HEROES

During my 42 years with Disabled Sports USA I have met many people with disabilities. A good number of them  achieved greatness in their chosen sport. Some became ski instructors or race coaches. Some started chapters of Disabled Sports USA. Many have been wonderful role models.

Over the years we have developed a bunch of adaptive equipment and teaching techniques that allow almost anyone with any disability to participate in skiing. But there was a time when we could not accommodate people in wheelchairs. If a person could not ski standing up, we couldn't involve them. By the mid-eighties we solved that problem but in the early days of adaptive skiing it was "sorry my friend". That leads me to my first hero.

His name was Renee. We called him "the handman". You see, he was born with a birth defect that left him with virtually unusable legs. He ambulated with crutches but often set them down and walked on his hands for short distances. And he skied that way! This young man was so determined to ski that he would put his hands down into ski boots attached to skis. His upper body was so strong that he would ski in a front leaning rest (push up) position dragging his short defomed legs behind him. In fact, he learned how to use his legs as rudders to help him steer. He ran race courses that way. The Handman was the ultimate example of determination and adaptation.

Al was a Viet Nam vet who lost both of his legs above the knees and he lost his right hand and all but a few fingers on his left. Al learned to ski standing up on his two artificial legs and in those days the knees in above knee prosthetics would collapse when bent. So Al had to learn to ski on stilts that would collapse in the middle, basically. And he had to try to hold on to outriggers with what was left of his hands. Al also became proficient enough to run race courses. Al refused to use a wheelchair despite the fact that it would have been easier for him to get around. Al's determination was something I admired greatly. He found a way to adapt and overcome!

The history of Disabled Sports USA is repleat with stories of determination, adaptation and achievement despite great odds. They represent the driving force of our organization.

 

 

Hyatt Lake Tahoe to Host Disabled Sports Wounded Warrior Event

On March 22nd thirty Wounded Warriors disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan will arrive at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe to spend the week with Disabled Sports at Alpine Meadows Resort. The Hyatt is donating rooms for the warriors and their hospital staff for the fifth year. We are extremely gratefull for their support.

I recently met with the new Hyatt GM who renewed their pledge to support our event. He has a great appreciation of the sacrifice these American heroes have made and he understands the need for all of us to express our gratitude. I was pleased to find out that he has an understanding of the extreme stress endured by men at arms. As I'm fond of saying, "in armed combat there are no unwounded warriors". Physically wounded or not, they all have to deal with they experienced, saw, heard, felt. As a disabled Viet Nam vet I can tell you it's a heavy load that takes years to work through.

Being active in our programs is a great start. It helps end isolation. It keeps you involved with other people who often have greater physical challenges. And, if you become an instructor or volunteer as I did, you are outwardly focused rather than dwelling on yourself. I can wait to meet this new group of soldiers and marines.

For more information visit www.disabledsports.net

Thank you Hyatt Lake Tahoe!!

DISABLED SPORTS' WOUNDED WARRIOR EVENT AT ALPINE MEADOWS

Our week long event "The Ability Celebration" is fast approaching. Our special guests, Wounded Warriors disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan, will arrive in Reno on March 22nd. You can find information about the event at www.disabledsports.net

Yesterday I had a heart warming experience. Last week we decided to take the Warriors to dinner in Reno after they arrive. So I called an old buddy, Rick Riley, one of the worlds top prosthetists who's shop is over that way and I asked him if his Rotary Club would sponsor the dinner. He called the club President and they invited me to their weekly meeting. Rick told me that they usually consider things like this well in advance but that they would make a pitch at the meeting. He was pretty sure there would be a good responce.

Durring the meeting announcements the President said, "I do this every once in a while. I am asking you to stand up if you will donate $100 dollars so we can host a dinner for soldiers and marines disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan". He chocked up as he said, "they'll be coming right off the hospital wards to attend an event being held by Disabled Sports. I need 10 of you to help so we'll have $1000." Twenty-nine people stood up ! The extra funds will help pay for several other meals.

As a Viet Nam vet, I can tell you that I am very proud of our citizens today for they respect they give those who serve. They deserve it.