For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's militaryBy Gregg K. Kakesako
See also: In The Military
Disabled veterans can
take part in a winter sports
clinic sponsored by the VAQuestion: With all the recent interest in the Olympics and winter sports, is there anything available for disabled veterans who enjoy winter activities?
Answer: The Department of Veterans Affairs does sponsor a winter sports clinic for disabled veterans each year. More than 350 disabled veterans will take on the challenge of skiing the Rocky Mountains at the 16th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colo., April 7-12. Sponsored by VA and the Disabled American Veterans, the clinic is hosted by the Grand Junction, Colo., VA Medical Center and VA's Rocky Mountain Network. It is open to all U.S. military veterans with spinal-cord injury or disease, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments or other diseases.
At the event, participants will learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing. They will also be introduced to a variety of adaptive activities and sports, including rock climbing, scuba diving, snowshoeing and sled hockey, plus a self-defense class taught by the U.S. Secret Service.
Known as "Miracles on a Mountainside," the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic shows that the lives of disabled veterans can be changed.
For further information, contact the VA public affairs coordinator, Winter Sports Clinic at (909) 422-3193; or the Disabled American Veterans communications (202) 314-5219. There is also a Web site available for information or to follow the activities as they happen, www.va.gov/vetski.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.Gregg K. Kakesako can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
