Hello friends and family!
Once again, I'll be training and fundraising for the VT 100. Yes, it was disappointing that last year's race got canceled due to the flooding. But, the big win was the $5000+ I was able to raise with your support for VT Adaptive Ski and Sports! Wahoo to all of you!!!! And, because of all your support I was invited to be part of the VT 100 VT Adaptive Team Run 2 Empower this year. What an honor! But that means the fundraising starts now (training to begin soon) with a Giving Tuesday kickoff complete with a 1 to 1 dollar matching challenge grant. On the table is a $50,000 match and I would love it if you could help out now to take advantage of this important opportunity for VT Adaptive. I appreciate your continued support for this cause!
Together, with your support, we have helped VT Adaptive empower adaptive athletes from across New England. Did you know that 50% of their athletes come from outside of Vermont? It helps support 16 full time staff and over 400 trained volunteers. This allows them to never turn an athlete away based on cost and serve all Veterans for free! It provides the flexibility to outfit a wide variety of adaptive athletes with equipment and guides to match their abilities. For example, just one adaptive mountain bike costs $10,000 (they have 10 available) and a sit-ski costs $5,000 (they have over 40 set ups). With your support, they provided over 5400 outings last year including sailing, kayaking, skiing, ice climbing, bowling, canoeing, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Did you know that VT100 was the first - yes first - ultra race founded with the specific purpose to fundraise for a cause?
This fall, as some of you know, I suffered a concussion. I have not been able to run for over 2 months now and it is really really tough for me. But my concussion will heal and I will be back to running across the trails and mountains of New England as I get ready for another VT 100. This experience has helped me to realize more directly what it must be like for those who have more significant or longer lasting disabilities be them physical, cognitive, developmental, or emotional. Maybe you have had a similar experience with an illness or injury. Or maybe you know of someone who has or could benefit from experiences and services like those provided by VT Adaptive. We all have our stories. VT Adaptive athletes have stories as well. Here are some video links to hear a few of them.
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports - YouTube
Vermont Adaptive: Every Body in the Family Can Get Outside
Vermont Adaptive - Sports For Everybody - YouTube
It has been an honor and a fulfilling challenge to be able to both run the VT 100 and fundraise for VT Adaptive, along with my time spent volunteering for Horizon's adaptive sailing here in Portland. I can't wait to be back at it this year as a member of Team Run 2 Empower.
I hope that you will continue to support VT Adaptive through my efforts to train for and run the VT 100 in 2024!
Keep on Keeping on!
- George
MORE INFO:
Mission: Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports is committed to empowering individuals with disabilities. We promote independence and further equality through access and instruction to sports and recreational activities.
Statement of Belief: We believe sports and recreation provide a physical, mental and social experience that is immeasurable in promoting self-confidence and independence in an individual. To that end, we extend an enormous thanks to our affiliates, sponsors, and partners who believe in our mission and vision, and who afford us the opportunity to bring sports and recreation to our clients’ lives.
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that empowers people of all disabilities through inclusive sports and recreational programming regardless of ability to pay. In addition to sports, year round programming options integrate environmental, holistic wellness, and competitive training philosophies for people of all ages with cognitive, developmental, physical and emotional/behavioral disabilities. The organization believes sports and recreation provide a physical, mental and social experience that is immeasurable in promoting self-confidence and independence in an individual.
With nearly 400 active volunteer instructors, plus generous partners and sponsors, and an amazing base of clients and friends, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports has been at the forefront of sports and recreation for those with disabilities in New England for over 30 years. Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports is committed to empowering individuals with disabilities. We promote independence and further equality through access and instruction to sports and recreational activities.
The VT 100 is one of Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports biggest fund raisers every year. For more information about Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports: www.vermontadaptive.org.