NEW ENGLAND HANDICAPPED SPORTS ASSOCIATION — A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mount Sunapee Resort
Newbury, NH
Bruce McCloy, Director of Marketing and Sales
(603) 763-3500 or bmccloy@mtsunapee.com

Newbury, NH - (July, 2010) - The New England Handicapped Sports Association (NEHSA) at Mount Sunapee is one of the oldest and largest organizations in New England for physically and developmentally disabled individuals. Its goal is to integrate disabled individuals into society through social and recreational activities. At Mount Sunapee, their winter recreational activities focus on skiing and snowboarding.

NEHSA offers adaptive experiences to people of all ages and abilities. The stand-up program, using traditional ski and snowboard equipment and/or one or two skis with outriggers, is designed for amputees, the visually impaired, those recovering from strokes or polio, those with developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy and other disabilities. The sit-down program, using mono-ski sleds and bi-ski sleds, accommodates those with spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, or muscular dystrophy, as well as paraplegics and quadriplegics.

NEHSA provides a fully stocked sport shop with all of the necessary equipment for each individual's needs, a full-day lift ticket, plus morning and afternoon lessons with professional instructors and supportive assistants. The NEHSA handicap-accessible lodge is located at the base of Mount Sunapee with plenty of handicapped parking.

The backbone of the association is the dedicated staff of 280 volunteers. They work seven days a week throughout the winter season helping to improve the emotional well-being of the NEHSA participants. Tom Kersey, director of NEHSA, says, "Our recreational therapy through adaptive sport provides our participants a challenge with an obtainable goal. With each small success comes the confidence to take on another of life's larger challenges. Our participants soon learn the only barriers to life and sports are self imposed."

NEHSA will be hosting the 14th Annual New England Winter Sports Clinic for Disabled Veterans January 10-13, 2011. This clinic promotes rehabilitation by instructing physically challenged veterans in adaptive alpine sports. Veterans from across the country attend this event.

NEHSA's programs have produced thousands of independent recreational skiers and snowboarders. We are proud to say that several disabled athletes who got their first lessons at NEHSA have risen to the podium in the International Paralympics games as well as the International Special Olympic games.

NEHSA is a 501-3c Nonprofit supported entirely through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and grants. For more information visit nehsa.org or call 603-763-9158.