AbilityPLUS Adaptive and Mount Snow, Vermont Team with Kids of Courage Ski Trip

Online, January 18, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Fifty-five children from across the country, all disabled and many with life-threatening illnesses, were treated by Mount Snow and AbilityPLUS to a day of skiing/riding that truly was inspirational for every participant. The trip to Mount Snow Sunday was arranged and coordinated by Kids of Courage a non-profit organization that arranges adventure experiences for people with severe, life-threatening physical impairments.

The children arrived Sunday by bus with their medical support team, volunteers and family members. They were greeted at the Grand Summit Hotel ballroom by Mount Snow and AbilityPLUS staff and volunteers, who within a matter of an hour had the children fitted with special adaptive ski and snowboard equipment, paired with volunteer instructors and on the trails at Mount Snow. For some, the trip to freedom on the slopes began as far away as San Diego and culminated with a day of skiing they had anticipated for months. The Kids of Courage gathered in New York City, then traveled by bus for an overnight Saturday in Springfield, MA and on to Mount Snow Sunday.

Mount Snow generously provides space at the ballroom of the Grand Summit, lift access and standard rental equipment to Kids of Courage. AbilityPLUS, which maintains a winter program at Mount Snow serving individuals with disabilities from throughout the Northeast, provides all adaptive equipment and instructors. Kids of Courage partners with AbilityPLUS and Mount Snow because together they have the capacity and expertise to handle a group as large, and requiring as intensive support, as Kids of Courage participants. It is the second year Kids of Courage has visited Mount Snow.

"There's no better way to describe how much this means to these kids. You have to see in their eyes and hear through their shouts of sheer joy what skiing and riding at Mount Snow brings to their very challenged lives," said Sue Tatem, AbilityPLUS Director of Programs. "Seeing children with ventilators and others attached to oxygen tanks enjoying a day on the mountain is incredibly inspirational for all of us who team with Kids of Courage to make this day possible for these kids."

"Not only is this something the kids look forward to all year, we know it can have a major positive impact on their medical situations," said Dr. Stuart Ditchek, Medical Director and Co-Founder of Kids of Courage. "It gives them something to look forward to, something to fight to achieve. We're so very grateful to Mount Snow and AbilityPLUS to make this happen for these kids."

Four adaptive-equipped tour buses and a caravan of vehicles started arriving at Mount Snow midmorning Sunday and by noon each child was outfitted with gear, paired with three AbilityPLUS volunteer coaches/instructors and were headed for the hill. From bi-skis and outriggers, to snowboards with special adaptive features, the kids were able to leave their wheelchairs behind and experience the unbridled spirit, joy and freedom of alpine skiing and riding. Some headed back out for a second round of fun after resting in the ballroom and enjoying a specially prepared buffet lunch. Because of their fragile conditions, most could only spend 30-to-45 minutes at a time outdoors on the snow.

By 4 o:clock, the buses had been reloaded with kids, gear, and memories and inspiration that will carry all until next year.

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