Contact: Mary Ellen Whitney (518) 598-1279
Photo and press opportunity
Eighteen Regional Wounded Warriors Participate in Adaptive Sports Weekend at Jiminy Peak
Welcome Ceremony for Warriors hosted by STRIDE
Troy, NY- On Friday, March 8th, STRIDE Adaptive Sports will welcome 18 Wounded Warriors and families who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan having sustained serious permanent injuries. They will spend a three day weekend with the STRIDE team of instructors at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort learning how to adaptive ski and snowboard. Most of the participants are from New York State Transition units, having recently returned with medical trauma; several from Fort Drum, NY, home of the 10th Mountain Division. Five alumni Warriors will be invited back in mentorship role to the new Warriors to assist through the overwhelming experience.
The event begins Friday evening at 6pm at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy with a cocktail reception. The Wounded Warriors will be escorted into the ballroom by the Schenectady Pipe Band and the colors posted by the LaSalle School’s Cadets. Ceremony will include a plated dinner. Welcoming words to the honored guests will kick-off with Senator Roy McDonald. Major General Donald L. Rutherford, 23rd US Army Chief of Chaplains, will deliver the keynote address, and each Wounded Warrior will be presented with a flag that has been flown over the United States Capitol. The event is open to the capital district community. Reserved tickets are $35 per person, or a reserved table of 10 for $400 and are available at www.stride.org.
On Saturday and Sunday, the honored guests will spend their time at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, MA participating with STRIDE instructors in this unique opportunity to learn how to ski and snowboard as put their lives back together through sports. A positive recreation experience can restore the mind, body and soul, and is a force in the rehabilitation process.
STRIDE, a local non-profit has raised all the funds to support our heroes, totaling nearly $40,000 annually. Event sponsors include Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership, SEFCU, Disabled Sports USA, Freihofers, Hudson River Tractor Company, Brown Coach, Frito-Lay, Chobani Yogurt, Albany Clearchannel; WNYT, Kinderhook Lodge of Elks, and the dozens of American Legions and VFW Posts including the Veterans of Lansingburgh, North Albany American Legion Post #1610 and the Valatie Knights of Columbus. All funding covers the cost of transportation, lodging, food, clothing, entertainment and gifts for the Wounded Warriors and their families and supporting STRIDE programs. Contributions are still needed and can be made on-line at www.stride.org.
Locally, the event has been recognized and supported by many elected officials and military officals including Congressman Chris Gibson, Senator Roy McDonald, Congressman Paul Tonko, New York Army National Guard Major General Patrick Murphy, Assemblyman Peter Lopez; Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin; New York Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major Frank Wicks; Brigadier General Michael Shields; New York Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major Kenneth Church.
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