Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra to Host Another Wounded Warrior Operation Mountain Freedom
Learn how this yearly therapeutic winter event has inspired the launch of their loftiest veteran program yet.
From January 28 to February 1, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (DSES) will hold their 13th Annual Operation Mountain Freedom program--a week long sport camp for active duty and veterans with disabilities.
This inspiring event hosted in beautiful Mammoth Lakes, California, encourages warriors with disabilities to face their challenges and fears through sports such as alpine skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing as well as by attending social gatherings and listening to guest speakers.
Each year has seen the demand for this once-in-a-lifetime experience grow, ultimately inspiring DSES to address an expanded vision —the creation of the National Wounded Warrior Center—a facility solely dedicated to the mental and physical recovery of wounded warriors, to be built in Mammoth Lake, California.
To join the DSES fundraising initiative, go to www.WoundedWarriorsMammoth.org/Donate.
“Each year we see overwhelming interest in Operation Mountain Freedom, and are always saddened to have to place veterans on the waiting list,” explained Founder and Executive Director of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, Kathy Copeland. “This outcry for these programs is what convinced us it was time to go one step further.” The transformation we see in their lives is inspiring and we can do so much more.
Their goal is to build the first National Wounded Warrior Center, where they will be able to treat an estimated 300 veterans annually with adaptive sports training, physical therapy, counseling, continued education with an onsite community college, and post-treatment housing guidance.
“We have seen such a positive impact with Operation Mountain Freed
om,” said Executive Director Copeland. “In just a week's time you can already witness their growing confidence in their bodies and how this affects their ability to communicate and meet social challenges. Just think what could happen with more resources and time!”
DSES has launched a campaign to raise $12M of the needed $17.9M construction costs by mid-2019, so they can break ground by the end of the year.
To learn about donation opportunities, recurring giving plans, establishing a legacy, and in-kind contributions of services and construction materials please call the Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra office at 760-934-0791 or email Info@DisabledSportsEasternSierra.org.
National Wounded Warrior Center donations are accepted at: www.WoundedWarriorsMammoth.org/Donate.
About
Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, is a nationally recognized adaptive sports program for children and adults with cognitive and physical disabilities, non-profit organization. Based in Mammoth Lakes, CA, DSES creates inspiring challenges, provides expert instruction, and rallies the community to comfortably accommodate people with disabilities.
The DSES Wounded Warrior Programs began in 2007 with a collaboration with Camp Pendleton and Balboa Naval Medical Hospital’s Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Battalion West. Wounded veterans from across the country now attend DSES Wounded Warrior programs, and participation has increased monumentally.
The success from the DSES Wounded Warrior programs is the true inspiration behind the creation of National Wounded Warrior Center. Donations accepted at: www.WoundedWarriorMammoth.org/Donate.
“You can’t put a price tag on an opportunity to come to a place as soothing as Mammoth for these Wounded Warriors –to feel like they’re not alone, that they’re not forgotten. It’s one thing for the government to do it, but it’s when private citizens and communities are doing it for the love of their fellow man that really touches the soldiers. It’s a chance to fundamentally save or change a person for the rest of their life.” -- Larry D. Nicholson, Ret. Commanding General, 1st Marine Division
Follow @DisabledSportsEasternSierra and @NationalWoundedWarriorCenter on Facebook for behind-the-scene snapshots, upcoming events, advocacy alerts, and campaign announcements.
