Summer Sports rehabilitation program, to teach lifelong sports skills
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The nation's best and bravest, those severely wounded in the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will participate this summer in sport
rehabilitation offered by Disabled Sports USA, its chapters and
Wounded Warrior Project. This year's summer activities for the Wounded
Warrior Disabled Sports Project will include a series of more than 30
"learn-to" clinics in cycling, golf, outrigger canoeing, kayaking, scuba, rock climbing, camping, water skiing, wake boarding, track and field, and other sports.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/releaseview/8DA4BA6869D494CC852573010050BCC0?opendocument
United States Marine Corps
Press Release
Public Affairs Office
; Patty Johnson
June 19, 2007
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.
Disabled Sports USA provides all sports programs free of charge for severely wounded service members and their families. This includes costs for transportation, special adaptive sports equipment, training from qualified instructors, lodging, meals and other costs.
"The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project is truly a successful
partnership and we are honored to be able to offer severely wounded service members and their families opportunities to participate in recreational activities," stated John Melia, executive director and founder of Wounded Warrior Project.
"The road to recovery is measured in years and through the WWDSP, we will continue to grow a community of active rehabilitation to engage wounded soldiers for a lifetime," he said.
"This summer's programs will include active sports that will show our
wounded warriors they can lead active lives despite their severe wounds," said Kirk Bauer, executive director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran.
"We will conduct programs throughout the USA, taking these deserving
service members to some fantastic venues, including kayaking and rock
climbing in Lake Tahoe's Squaw Valley, scuba diving in the Carribean, water skiing in New York, Texas and California, 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. 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 AIG insurance, The Chart Group, Ariel Corporation, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Moore Capital Management, Cushman & Wakefield, Trijicon, Non Commissioned Officers Association, Marine Corps Celebrity Classic, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Charitable Foundation, General Dynamics, Battelle, SeaMobile and others.
About the 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
(904) 296-7350 or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
About Disabled Sports USA
Founded in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans, Disabled Sports USA provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to gain confidence and dignity 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. Visit www.dsusa.org/woundedwarrior.html or (301) 217-9840 for schedules and additional information.
Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project 2007 Program Schedule
Free Bally Total Fitness memberships available
June
MASD Day on the Lake Program (AZ Alumni)
1 - 2, Carefree, AZ
CSC Invitational with Challenge Alaska (Cycling) 2, Arlington VA
Marine Corps Celebrity Invitational
6-10, Jacksonville, NC
The Endeavor Games, UCO Disabled Sports and Events (Competition and
Mentoring Opportunity)
7 - 10, Edmond, OK (Separated Veterans)
Team River Runner Colorado Kayak Clinic
16 - 24, Various Sites, CO
No Barriers Festival 2007 (SCUBA, Kayak, Rock Climbing, Cycling)
28 June - 2 July, Squaw Valley, CA
PGA Golf Training Program (Weekly, WRAMC) 2, 9, 12 - 2pm
Team River Runner Kayak Training Program Tues, 1700 at WRAMC (PT) and
Sundays, 1pm
July
New York Adaptive Water Sports Festival
12 - 15, New York, NY
O&P Extremity Games
19 - 21, Orlando, FL
Team River Runner Sea Kayaking
25 - 31, St. John, Virgin Islands
DS/USA Far West Sports Camp
Sacramento CA (Alumni*)
Team River Runner Kayak Training Program Tues, 1700 at WRAMC (PT) and
Sundays, 1pm
August
Adaptive Water Sports Festival
4 - 5, Burden Lake, NY
Bonaire SCUBA Trip
11 - 18, Bonaire
First Swing Golf Clinic (ASF)
17, Windham NY
Aspen Wilderness Experience (Challenge Aspen)
19 - 25, Aspen CO
Team River Runner Kayak Training Program Tues, 1700 at WRAMC (PT) and
Sundays, 1pm
September
Kent Island Cup (Outrigger Canoe Race)
Kent Island, MD
Rochester River Challenge - CAOOI (Canoe Race)
14 - 16, Rochester NY (Alumni*)
Challenge Aspen TBI Camp (Multi Sport)
14 - 19, Aspen CO
Running Clinic
28, WRAMC
Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower 5k Run
30, New York, NY
Team River Runner Kayak Training Program Tues, 1700 at WRAMC (PT) and
Sundays, 1pm
October
First Swing Golf Clinic
12, Woodmont CC, Rockville, MD
Team River Runner Kayak Training Program Tues, 1700 at WRAMC (PT) and
Sundays, 1pm
HUB Financial Golf Charities Tournament
Boston, MA (Alumni*)
November
Blood, Sweat, Toil and Triumph Biathlon
Washington DC
Team River Runner Kayak Training Program Tues, 1700 at WRAMC (PT) and
Sundays, 1pm
December
The Hartford Ski Spectacular
2 - 9, Breckenridge, CO
Team River Runner Kayak Training Program Tues, 1700 at WRAMC (PT) and
Sundays, 1pm
Ongoing
Adaptive Sports Association New Dimension Scholarship (multi-sport) Ongoing,
Durango CO
The following chapters of DS/USA are supporting the Project:
Ability Plus, NH
Adaptive Sports Association, CO
Adaptive Adventures, CO
Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte, CO Adaptive Sports Foundation, NY
Bart J. Ruggiere Adaptive Sports Center, VT Breckenridge Outdoor Education
Center, CO Cape Ability Ohana Outrigger Inc., NY Challenge Alaska, AK
Challenge Aspen, CO DS/USA Eastern Sierra, CA DS/USA Far West, CA DS/USA New
England (WMASS at Loon), NH Greek Peak Sports for the Disabled, NY Mesa
Association of Sports for the Disabled, AZ New England Handicapped Sports
Association, NH Operation Comfort, TX STRIDE, NY Team River Runner, MD UCO
Disabled Sports and Events, OK Wintergreen Adaptive Skiing, VA Wounded
Warrior Project, FL
Alumni denotes veterans no longer undergoing full time therapy at a military
medical facility.