The second largest adaptive sports clinic for disabled Veterans held at Mount Sunapee
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. -- The 22nd annual New England Winter Sports Clinic for Veterans with Disabilities will be held at Mount Sunapee, N.H., from Monday, Jan. 13 through Thursday, Jan. 17.
The clinic is held each year at Mount Sunapee Ski Resort in Newbury, N.H. t hrough a collaborative partnership with the VA New England Healthcare System and the New England Healing Sports Association or NEHSA.
More than 50 Veterans with disabilities who receive health care through VA facilities across New England are expected to participate in this year’s clinic with winter sports accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Through a week of scheduled adaptive sports, the clinic promotes rehabilitation through recreation and allows Veterans to come together as a community through winter sports.
Veterans in previous years say the clinic has also given them confidence and has supplemented the recreational therapy programs they use at their local VA medical center while connecting them with other Veterans through shared experiences.
“When I came to the (recreation) program, I didn’t have much outlook on life,” said John Bacon, a Vietnam Veteran from New Hampshire, who participated in the 2018 clinic. “The program really saved me -- saved my life. Attending the sports clinic helped me meet new people and realize I wasn’t alone.”
Veterans will be able to hit the slopes either with skis, snowboards, or a wide variety of adaptive options to allow each person to feel a sense of independence. Other events and activities planned include air rifle shooting, sled hockey, kayaking, massages and a wheelchair basketball game against a local fire department.
The week is made possible through many sponsors, the support from instructors affiliated with NEHSA, VA recreation therapy and other VA staff.
VA recreation therapy staff from the VA Boston Healthcare System, White River Junction VA Medical Center in Vermont and other facilities from across the VA New England Healthcare System assist Veterans throughout the week and at each event.
NEHSA is a charitable 501(c)3 organization located at Mount Sunapee. NEHSA was formed in 1972 as injured Vietnam War era Veterans were returning home and were searching for ways to reintroduce skiing back into their lives. NEHSA started as a weekend alpine ski program for people with physical disabilities. Since its founding, NEHSA serves people who want to enjoy active and independent lives through participation in sports and recreation.
Over the past several years, NEHSA has now grown to include individuals living with a wide variety of physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities.
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