MultiVu Video Feed: Veterans Receive Health, Rehab Benefits at Largest Adaptive Winter Sports Event in the World

NEW YORK, April 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

NEWS: Veterans nationwide unite for the largest adaptive winter sports event in the world.

FORMAT:  B-roll and Soundbites

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:  Video, hard copy requests, downloadable MPEG4, contact information and more available at http://multivu.prnewswire.com/broadcast/61113/press.html

STORY SUMMARY:
DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are hosting the 27th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, in Snowmass Village, Colo., March 31 - April 5. The event is an annual rehabilitation program showcasing winter sports and activities available to injured Veterans to sustain healthy and active lives.

Nearly 400 Veterans are currently receiving professional instruction in adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing, and are introduced to various physical activities such as rock climbing, scuba diving, curling, sled hockey, and self-defense taught by the U.S. Secret Service.  Recent studies indicate that injured Veterans who participate in adaptive sports report benefits such as less stress, reduced dependency on pain and depression medication, fewer secondary medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), higher achievement in education and employment, and more independence.

The Clinic is open to U.S. military Veterans with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments, certain neurological conditions and other disabilities, who receive care at a VA medical facility or military treatment center. This year's Clinic will feature participants from across the country, including many who served in recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America's injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a non-profit organization with 1.2 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U. S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at www.dav.org.

VA is a recognized world leader in rehabilitative and recreational therapies. VA's Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events promotes the rehabilitation of body and spirit by operating adaptive sports clinics and competitions around the nation. VA operates the nation's largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,700 hospitals, clinics, community living centers, domiciliaries, readjustment counseling centers, and other facilities. Learn more about VA's adaptive sports programs at www.va.gov/adaptivesports

SOUNDBITES:

• Marc Burgess, Executive Director, DAV National Headquarters
• Dr. Tommy Sowers, Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Marshall Randy Abbott, Marines, San Diego, CA
• Devora Exline, Navy, Escondido, CA
• Cesar Gonzalez, Navy, El Paso, Texas
• Michael Simon, Army National Guard, Stillwater, Minnesota

B-ROLL INCLUDES: Footage of veterans snowskiing, snowboarding, participating in sled hockey, curling, kayaking, and climbing rock wall.

VIDEO PROVIDED BY:  Disabled American Veterans

SOURCE Disabled American Veterans