Sports rehabilitation program to teach lifelong sports skills offered free to severely wounded service members for fifth consecutive year
ROCKVILLE, MD (RapidPressRelease) - Severely wounded service members who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will participate in the year long sports rehabilitation program offered by Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA) in partnership with its local chapters and Wounded Warrior Project. This year's activities for the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project will include a series of more than 70 "learn-to" clinics in snow skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, cycling, golf, sailing, outrigger canoeing, kayaking, SCUBA, rock and ice climbing, camping, water skiing, rafting, wake boarding, track and field, and other sports.
Advanced level training and competitions are also offered to help the wounded warriors to remain active throughout their lives. Several of the wounded warriors have been certified as ski instructors and scuba divers, and some are training to be Paralympians, as a result of this program. Many have become active in local DS/USA chapter activities, once they return to civilian life.
The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project provides all sports programs free for severely wounded service members and their families. This includes costs for transportation, special adaptive sports equipment, training from qualified adaptive sports instructors, lodging, meals and other costs.
"Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is thrilled to continue our partnership with Disabled Sports USA," stated John Melia, Executive Director and Founder of WWP. "We believe there are profound benefits that result from participation in this type of recreation, the most significant being the ability to take control of the healing process by learning skills for a life that transcends injury."
"The 2008 programs will include active sports that will show our wounded warriors they can lead full and active lives despite their severe wounds," said Kirk Bauer, J.D., executive director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran.
"We will conduct programs throughout the USA, taking these deserving wounded warriors to some fantastic venues, including skiing and snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Sierra Nevada Mountains in California; kayaking and rock climbing in Lake Tahoe's Squaw Valley; SCUBA diving in the Caribbean; water skiing in New York, Texas and California; surfing in California and North Carolina; golfing and cycling at courses and paths near the hospitals where they are convalescing and many other activities," Bauer added.
Activities will be held for severely wounded service members rehabilitating in Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas; Balboa Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California; and Veterans Hospitals in Tampa, Florida and Palo Alto, California and other medical centers. Wounded Warriors discharged from the military will also have the opportunity to continue to participate at DS/USA national and chapter programs throughout the USA, so they can maintain an active sports life.
In addition to Wounded Warrior Project, sponsors include American International Group (AIG); Bank of America; The Chart Group; Ariel Corporation; Trijicon; Non Commissioned Officers Association; Marine Corps Celebrity Classic; Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Charitable Foundation; Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC); Moore Capital Management, LLC; Cushman & Wakefield; Battelle; SeaMobile; Tee It Up 4 the Troops; PGA of America; Genatt Associates, and others.
About Wounded Warrior Project
The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a non-profit organization aimed at assisting those men and women of the United States armed forces who have been severely injured during the war on terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the world. Beginning at the bedside of the severely wounded, WWP provides programs and services designated to ease the burdens of these heroes and their families, aid in the recovery process and smooth the transition back to civilian life. For more information, please call 877-TEAM-WWP (832-6997) or visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
About Disabled Sports USA
Founded in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans, Disabled Sports USA provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to rebuild their lives through sports, recreation and educational programs. DS/USA is a national multi-sport, multi-disability organization serving more than 60,000 youth and adults annually. A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, DS/USA offers programs through its nationwide network of 90 community-based chapters operating in 36 states. For schedules and additional information, visit www.dsusa.org/woundedwarrior.html or call (301) 217-9840.
The 2008 Program Schedule for Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project can be found here: http://www.dsusa.org/calendars-wwdsp-calendar.html.
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