Camp del Corazon - March 5-6, 2005

"Making a difference in the lives of children with heart disease." This is our first group that we taught!! There were 16 'campers'...all with a wide variety of heart diseases! We had a blast; they had a blast...and we can't wait to do it again next year!

Visit the Camp del Corazon website for more information about this organization.

Disabled Sports and Camp del Corazon Unite

By Suzanne Nottingham in March 17, 2005 Mammoth Times

Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra continues its efforts to spread the movement of skiing to the world of disabled people. Last weekend, DSES instructors hosted Camp del Corazon from North Hollywood. Two heart transplant recipients and 28 other heart patients, staff including a physician, and 20 DSES instructors converged at the Main Lodge to enjoy the Eastern Sierra early spring and excellent conditions.

"They were our very first group for Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra and we loved all of them!," said DSES director Kathy Copeland who arranged the rendezvous after she connected with a representative of Camp del Corazon at the California Association of Non-Profits (CAN) conference. "We hit it off and then thought maybe our programs may be a fit."

In addition to heart transplant patients, other "campers" had heart conditions such as arterial transplants, valve replacements, congenital heart disease and pacemakers. "Our main concern was over-exertion but all the campers knew their bodies and limitations," Copeland said.

According to Dave Owings, volunteer coordinator, the group was quite prepared for emergencies too with their own physician, the AED, oxygen and evacuation plans for an expeditious departure, if necessary.

The weather and conditions were gorgeous, a happy ending to a fantastic weekend. Thirty people with heart disabilities are now aware that with proper technique, pace and terrain, skiing is an option for a happy new beginning. "This was a magical experience that we are looking forward to doing again next year," Owings said.