Disabled veterans and their families will enjoy a weekend of free ski/snowboard lessons and family fun at the West Virginia Resort
Snowshoe, W.V.— Snowshoe Mountain is pleased to welcome the Wounded Warriors Project to the mountain for the fourth consecutive year. Snowshoe will host 28 soldiers and their families to the mountain for a weekend ski camp, March 4-6, with Snowshoe’s Adaptive Ski Program, headed by Executive Director Dave Begg. These special guests will be treated to free adaptive ski lessons, free lift tickets and adaptive equipment rentals, as well as special programming including a Saturday evening reception.
The 28 soldiers taking part in this year’s event will travel from around the region including Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Fort Meade, F.L., and Martinsburg VA. The soldiers are veterans of active duty and represent all four branches of the military. They suffer from a variety of disabling conditions including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury and PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome), amputations, burns, gunshot wounds, back injuries, and ankle and arm injuries. The weekend’s activities are a joint effort of the Wounded Warriors program, Challenged Athletes of WV—a member of Disabled Sports USA—and Snowshoe’s adaptive ski program, which offers disabled persons the chance to experience the slopes all season. The soldiers will be joined by their families, with a total of 75 guests being served by the adaptive program and Snowshoe Mountain this weekend.
The Wounded Warriors Project hosts a variety of programs, including seasonal ski camps, around the country. Because adaptive equipment can sometimes cost as much as $3,000, many veterans are unable to afford it on their own. With assistance from the Wounded Warriors Project, soldiers and their family members are provided these opportunities free of charge, including transportation, lodging, meals, equipment and individualized instruction. With the help of these programs, athletes can accomplish things they may have thought impossible after their injuries, finding joy, comfort and pride in reestablishing their athletic ability. During their weekend on the mountain the servicemen and women will also be treated to a variety of special activities off-snow, allowing both the soldiers and families to bond with others facing similar challenges, while delighting in new possibilities and new found opportunities.
About The Wounded Warriors’ Project:
The Wounded Warriors’ Project is a national organization with a mission, “to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.” Wounded Warriors is dedicated to assisting in all facets of veterans’ lives from the time they arrive home from the battlefield. Included in the programs offered is the Disabled Sports Project, which provides year-round sports programs. Participation in activities including skiing and snowboarding, kayaking, biking and rock climbing has been found to help aid in the healing and rehabilitation for severely wounded service members. The sports program is a partnership between the Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled Sports USA and takes place at sites throughout the Unites States. . For more information on the Wounded Warrior Project, please visit https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
About Challenged Athletes of West Virginia:
Challenged Athletes of West Virginia is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization with headquarters at Snowshoe Mountain. Challenged Athletes has been providing year-round recreation opportunities for children and adults with disabilities for 15 years. For more information, log onto www.cawvsports.org .
###