TWENTY-NINE PALMS DISABLED VETERAN SKIS THE GREAT ROCKY MOUNTAINS (Cee-gar Man US Marine)

VA Gov ^ | 4/7/05

[TexKat]

Snowmass, Colo. -- April 7, 2005 -- Nicholas Popaditch, a Marine Corps veteran from Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif.,is enjoying the challenge of skiing, and an opportunity for self-development at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Soprts Clinic. The Clinic is taking place April 3 - 8 in Snowmass Village, Colo. Established in 1987, the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is the largest annual rehabilitation event of its kind in the world. It is co-sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Popaditch, 37, a combat-wounded veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom, is among more than 300 U.S. military veterans from 47 states who have gathered in Snowmass to learn or improve their skills in adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing and snowboarding. The Clinic promotes rehabilitation by teaching downhill and cross-country skiing to veterans with significant physical or visual impairments. It also offers a variety of adaptive activities and sports for Popaditch to take part in, including scuba diving, rock climbing, sled hockey, snowmobiling and self-defense. Nearly 50 veterans recently injured in Iraq are participating in the Clinic this year.

Popaditch, is visually impaired, and receives care at the the VA medical facility in Loma Linda, Calif., He is a beginner skier and will snowboard and Alpine (downhill) ski using a 2-track ski (regular Alpine skis and poles) and a sighted guide (Ski descriptions are posted on the Clinic's web site: www.wintersportsclinic.org. See Adaptive Skiing page.)

"I have been excited about everything," said Popaditch, a first-time participant at the Winter Sports Clinic. "I had never been skiing in my life!"

With 1,300 health care facilities across the United States, VA is a recognized leader in rehabilitative and recreational therapies. DAV is a nonprofit, Congressionally chartered veterans service organization with a membership of more than one million wartime disabled veterans. The Winter Sports Clinic provides disabled veterans with sports and leisure activities that they may have felt were closed to them because of their disabilities. All Clinic activities demonstrate that having a physical or visual disability need not be an obstacle to an active, rewarding life.

Note to Editor: Backgroung information is available on the Clinic's web site: www.wintersportsclinic.org If you would like to interview Popaditch, he can be reached after April 11th at (760) 368-1310. For more information about the Winter Sports Clinic please contact Jenny Tankersley, National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic public affairs coordinator at (757) 728-3450.

[TexKat]

I clicked onto my e-mail this morning and had received a wonderful e-mail from April and Cee-gar Man US Marine (Nick Popaditch). I was very happy to hear from them. I had tried to see if I could locate any info on them while the winter sports clinic was on-going but was unable to, so this e-mail worked out just fine.

Please let April and Nick know that we have not forgotten and that they are still in our prayers.

[trisham]

"I have been excited about everything," said Popaditch, a first-time participant at the Winter Sports Clinic. "I had never been skiing in my life!"

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Good for him! My nephew just returned from Iraq, thankfully unharmed. He's also at Twentynine Palms.

[TexKat]

Ping

[Lovergirl]

I love that picture.

[TexKat]

My nephew just returned from Iraq, thankfully unharmed. He's also at Twentynine Palms.

Please relay my thanks to your nephew and I am also pleased that he returned unharmed.

[retrokitten]

How cool for Sgt. Nick! You can see the excitement all over his face in that picture.

[Gucho]

Ping


Bump

[DollyCali]

Atta way to go Nick & April..

we will always love our Cee-gar Guy

Thanks for thread & ping Tex.. lovely weather here finally in Ohio & I am trying to get some yard work done. VERY big yard with lots of "opportunities" for sore muscles & bangs, scraches & bruises...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[b4its2late]

Thanks for the post. Great picture.

I might be an idiot, but is there an email addy there that I can't see? I'll definitely send a nice note....

[TexKat]

You've got private mail.

[Valin]

bump

[b4its2late]

Thanks. I sent one back.... :-)

[Vic3O3]

ping!

[ChefKeith]

Thanks TK

Cigar Ping

[TexKat]

Wonderful b4its2late. I am sure they will enjoy.

[Graymatter]

Is this an Ann Coulter Rule thread? :)

[jokar]

Semper fi Bump. 29 palms is just down the road a piece.

[trisham]

Thank you. We love him dearly.

[null and void]

Thanks! I finally got off my butt and sent him a Thank You card.