DSES Receives Quality of Life Grant
Grant to have direct impact on people living with paralysis in Mammoth Lakes, CA
DSES is committed to developing life skills by creating
opportunities for adaptive sports
The Christopher Reeve Foundation (CRF) announced March 7, 2007 that Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra has been awarded a $2500 Quality of Life grant. The CRF awarded a total of $717,404 in Quality of Life grants to 90 nonprofit organizations around the world. Since 1999, when the Quality of Life program was conceived by the late Dana Reeve as a way for the CRF to help improve the day-to-day health and well-being of those living with paralysis, 1,163 grants totaling $9,220,980 have been awarded.
"The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is proud to carry on Christopher and Dana Reeve's amazing legacy and make a real difference in the lives of people living with paralysis, their families and communities," said Kathy Lewis, president and CEO of the CRF. "Our Quality of Life grantees help thousands of individuals Go Forward to lead happier - and healthier - lives."
With support from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (DSES) has held an adaptive training session for volunteer instructors. Bill Bowness, a Professional Ski Instructors of America Trainer and Demo Team member, came to Disabled Sports and gave specialized training on how to teach people with paraplegia to ski in mono skis. DSES is excited to present the first 3-day "Mammoth Mono Ski Madness Camp" on March 21-23, 2007 for students with paraplegia necessitating the use of sit-down equipment. The Mono Camp will be taught by coaches certified by PSIA and DSES volunteer instructors. This event is a tremendous opportunity for mono skiers to be out on the hill experiencing the freedom and exhilaration of skiing in our fabulous outdoor winter wonderland in the Sierra. It is events like these that change lives!
Executive Director, Kathy Copeland states, "friends confined to wheel chairs often experience the claustrophobia of not being able to get around freely and easily. In the winter in the Sierra, the snow blankets the mountain and it becomes accessible to everyone. They can go anywhere and everywhere and feel free. These experiences changes lives!" Our first annual Mono Camp is only the beginning.
CRF Quality of Life Grants are awarded twice annually to programs or projects that improve the well-being of people living with paralysis, particularly spinal cord injuries. Awarded in 13 categories that span everything from health promotion to employment to sports and recreation, Quality of Life grants address many aspects of life, and are given to programs across the globe. For more information about the Quality of Life Program or the grant application process, please contact the Quality of Life department at 1-800-225-0292 or visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org for a complete list of the Quality of Life grant recipients.
The Christopher Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.
Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra
760.934.0791