Veterans/No Boundaries Offers Great Sports Opportunities for Veterans at Maine Handicapped Skiing Sunday River

Maine Handicapped Skiing, Maine's largest year-round adaptive recreation program serving adults and children with physical disabilities, has put together an exciting new program called Veterans/No Boundaries. The newest addition to Maine Handicapped Skiing's nationally recognized adaptive recreational programs, Veterans/No Boundaries provides recreational activities to any veteran with a physical disability who requires adaptive equipment or techniques to participate in sports.

In keeping with Maine Handicapped Skiing's tradition of providing every lesson free of charge to every participant, the Veterans/No Boundaries program will offer all lessons, equipment and ski/trail passes at no cost. In addition Veterans/No Boundaries will be providing free lodging, meals, entertainment and some transportation to veterans and their spouses or significant others, thanks to the generous support of numerous American Legion Posts in Maine, businesses and individuals.

The first winter Veterans/No Boundaries program will be held at Sunday River Ski Resort and Sunday River Inn and Cross Country Ski Center on February 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2006. Veterans will be able to choose from lessons in downhill and cross country skiing, snow-boarding, and snowshoeing. In addition spouses or significant others will be invited to attend and participate in a variety of activities.

Maine Handicapped Skiing's goal, through the Veterans/No Boundaries program, is to help any veteran with a physical disability from any conflict to integrate back into their communities with new self-confidence, physical strength, and skills through participation in adaptive recreational activities.

The ultimate goal of Maine Handicapped Skiing is to introduce winter adaptive sports to veterans who have recently completed their rehabilitation and are ready to participate in winter adaptive sports programs. Veterans will also be invited to take part in Maine Handicapped Skiing's summer Veterans/No Boundaries program located at Pine Tree Camp, a fully accessible outdoor camp, in Rome, Maine. The summer program offers lessons in canoeing, kayaking, cycling, martial arts, and fishing—all free of charge.

Veterans/No Boundaries is coordinated by a volunteer planning committee that includes nine veterans, local business people and Maine Handicapped Skiing staff. Several veterans with a physical disability serving on the committee are currently participants and/or volunteers at Maine Handicapped Skiing in winter and summer sports activities.

If you would like to learn more about Veterans/No Boundaries, please email Wendy Iseman, Development and Public Relations Director at MHS at wiseman@skimhs.org or call 800-639-7770. To learn about Maine Handicapped Skiing, Maine's largest adaptive recreation program for adults and children with physical disabilities, go to www.skimhs.org , call 800-639-7770 or stop by the MHS building at 8 Sundance Lane beyond South Ridge Lodge when you are visiting Sunday River Ski Resort.