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Californian Athlete Helps Disabled Veterans Hit the Slopes
 Thanks in part to the support of Walnut Creek, California's Mike Weiss - and his community of donors - more than 400 disabled veterans are expected to ski the Rocky Mountains at the 21st National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo., near Aspen, from April 1-6. Recently wounded veterans from the War on Terror will participate in the event, which is the largest annual rehabilitation event of its kind in the world.
The clinic is open to all U.S. military veterans with spinal cord injuries or disease, visual impairments, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations or other disabilities, who receive care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities.
During the six-day program, veterans will learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing and be introduced to a variety of other adaptive activities and sports, such as rock climbing, scuba diving, snowmobiling and sled hockey. The U.S. Secret Service will also teach a course on self-defense for people with disabilities.
Weiss and his wife, Francesca, have supported the event since 2004 by gathering donations from supporters. These donors sponsor Weiss in cycling events, which raise additional awareness for the event. Last year, Weiss teamed with Dana Liesegang, a spinal cord disabled Navy veteran he met at the clinic, to tandem bicycle 30 miles up Mount Shasta. The year before, he cycled Northern California’s famed Climb to Kaiser, in which he endured 155 miles of 15 and 20 degree grades.
“I know, beyond a shadow of doubt, the impact this event is making in the lives of the participants,” said Weiss. “That inspires me to push harder to help out. I can personally vouch for the event, and I think the people who donate can tell that their money is going to an incredible cause.”
In addition to Mike's generous support, the event is co-sponsored by the VA and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
“Mike Weiss is a force of nature. His story of support for the Winter Sports Clinic is an intensely emotional and inspiring tale,” said Arthur H. Wilson, National Adjutant of the DAV. “We’re grateful for Mike’s indomitable spirit, hard work, and generosity. He’s been a friend of the event and a steadfast advocate for veterans.”
The VA (www.va.gov) is a government agency that runs 1,300 health care facilities for veterans across the United States. DAV (www.dav.org) is a nonprofit, Congressionally chartered veterans service organization with a membership of more than 1.3 million wartime disabled veterans. The Winter Sports Clinic provides participants with a full range of sports, recreation and educational opportunities.
A statement from Mike: Almost on a daily basis the media provides us with an account of the costly human toll that war in Iraq and Afghanistan is having on our American military. But the ravages of war go beyond the loss of life. Many military personnel return home to face the rest of their lives with devastating injuries including the loss of limbs, visual impairment, and various neurological disabilities. Every day activities that are taken for granted by most of us can become seemingly insurmountable challenges for disabled veterans. Of course, along with the difficulty to accept and adapt to their physical losses disabled veterans also struggle to adjust to the loss of their independence, which erodes away at their self-confidence for experiencing fulfilling and purposeful lives.
Fortunately the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Veterans Administration have teamed up to produce the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. This unique event provides disabled veterans the opportunity to physically challenge themselves in activities and sports involving movement, balance and coordination skills in a variety of venues including skiing, both downhill and cross-country, sled hockey, rock wall climbing, and scuba diving to name just a few.
The Winter Sports Clinic is an open door for disabled veterans. It gives them the chance to redefine their limitations and transform adversity into accomplishment. Further, it provides a supportive environment that stimulates optimism towards a future defined by opportunity instead of disappointment. One of the many wonderful characteristics of the Clinic is its inspirational and encouraging atmosphere. The positive spirit and dynamic atmosphere that emanates from the Clinic stimulates disabled veterans to unlock the chains that bind their self confidence – it motivates them to experience new horizons of personal growth that will pave a path to fulfillment and meaning that are no longer just a dream, but a reality to be seized.
To find out how to make a contribution, please contact Mike Weiss at: (925) 938-3578 or email him at: weiss_mike925@yahoo.com.
For more information on the event visit www.wintersportsclinic.com.
Download Press Release (pdf)
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