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> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> March 28, 2006

# \"Shining Example\" as Disabled Veterans Ski the Rockies 

**At Annual Winter Sports Clinic in Colorado**

> WASHINGTON -- Catastrophic combat injuries, blindness and paralysis
> will not stop more than 400 disabled veterans from across the country,
> including nearly 70 veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and
> Operation Enduring Freedom, from taking part in the 20^th^ National
> Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo.,
> April 2-7. The event is jointly sponsored by the Department of
> Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
>
> Coming two months after the world\'s top athletes competed in the
> Winter Olympics, and just two weeks after the Paralympics, the clinic
> is an annual rehabilitation program 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 any VA health care facility.
>
> \"For 20 years, the Winter Sports Clinic has been a shining example of
> VA\'s commitment to help disabled veterans recover from their serious
> injuries and illnesses,\" said the Honorable R. James Nicholson,
> Secretary of Veterans Affairs. \"Also important is that their
> determination, courage and achievement become models for other injured
> people to realize what they still can do with their lives.\"
>
> During the six-day program, the veterans will learn adaptive Alpine
> and Nordic skiing and be introduced to a variety of other activities
> and sports, such as rock climbing, scuba diving, trap-shooting and
> sled hockey. The U.S. Secret Service will also teach a course on
> self-defense for people with disabilities.
>
> **-More --**
>
> **Winter Clinic 2/2/2/2**
>
> This year, for the first time at the clinic, veteran athletes can set
> their sights higher, thanks to an agreement between the United States
> Olympic Committee and VA signed on Nov. 17, 2005. Clinic participants
> will now be introduced to racing techniques and other Paralympic
> sports such as wheelchair fencing. The clinic's own Chris
> Devlin-Young, recent silver medalist in the men's downhill skiing
> competition during the 2006 Paralympics in Torino, will ski at the
> clinic and take part in this first-ever race training and development
> program. Devlin-Young and U.S. Olympic coaches will be on hand to
> teach racing skills and philosophy as well as to identify those
> veterans with Paralympic potential.
>
> "There is a true sense of community and a deep bond among veterans,"
> said DAV National Commander Paul W. Jackson. "You feel it very
> strongly at the clinic. During this week, those brave men and women
> who have shared sacrifices in battle forge an even stronger bond
> through teamwork and competition. The DAV is proud to join VA in
> staging this 20^th^ Winter Sports Clinic. Having participated in the
> clinic myself, it's an honor to return as DAV's national commander to
> support such an incredible event."
>
> Clay Walker, country music entertainer, will perform Thursday, April
> 6, at 9 p.m. Actress Bo Derek, national honorary chairperson for VA's
> rehabilitation special events, will also be present during the week to
> meet with the veterans.
>
> Updates, photos and news releases about these events and participating
> veterans will be posted on the Winter Sports Clinic Web site during
> the week, at
> [www.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2006/default.cfm](http://www.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2006/default.cfm)
> under "Participant Information."
>
> VA continues to be a recognized leader in rehabilitation, with
> recreational therapy programs at each of its 154 hospitals allowing
> disabled veterans to challenge themselves both physically and
> emotionally. DAV, which has co-sponsored the event since 1991, is a
> nonprofit, congressionally chartered veterans service organization,
> with a membership of more than one million wartime disabled veterans.

**For further information, contact:**

-   Phil Budahn, VA headquarters, (202) 273-6000

-   Jenny Shafer Tankersley, VA on-site coordinator at (757) 728-3450;

-   Rob Lewis, DAV communications, at (859) 442-2049; or,

-   Log on to the event's web site at:
    [www.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2006/default.cfm](http://www.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2006/default.cfm)