COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to announce they will be hosting their annual winter ski camp in Breckenridge, Colorado, from Thursday, March 6 through Saturday, March 8, thanks to generous support from the Anthem Life Insurance Company. The USABA is partnering with the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) for lodging, as well as to obtain assistance from trained ski guides – the ski guides are a key element for athletes who are blind and visually impaired. This year USABA and BOEC will provide alpine skiing and Nordic skiing in the Rocky Mountains for individuals, including veterans and active duty service members, who are blind and visually impaired.
“The goal of this program is to provide skiers who are blind and visually impaired with a chance to get out on the mountain and experience the thrill of alpine and Nordic skiing. It’s our hope that by providing additional resources and skills, our participants will continue to ski at their nearest ski resorts, and that this event sparks the desire to compete,” said Mark Lucas, USABA’s executive director.
Aaron Scheidies is the guest speaker at this year’s event. Scheidies was born with a hereditary eye condition that slowly deteriorated his central vision to where he currently has less than 15 percent of the vision of a fully sighted person; however, this has not kept him from accomplishing amazing goals. He began competing in triathlons in his early teens and has raced in more than 250 triathlons throughout the world. He has been named a national triathlon champion eight times, a world champion of the triathlon seven times, and he became the 2012 USABA national marathon champion after finishing the California International Marathon course in 2:48.
This multi-dimensional athlete also excelled in college. Scheidies had a perfect 4.0 grade point average at Michigan State University (MSU), served as president of the MSU Triathlon Club, volunteered more than 100 hours helping other students with disabilities, and was inducted into the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame.
“It’s incredibly motivating to hear about all of the accomplishments Aaron has achieved to date with limited vision,” said Jeff Spahr, president of Anthem Life. “When someone is born with a disability or they become disabled over a period of time, including visual impairment, a lot of everyday activities can become challenging. However, this shouldn’t stop a person from getting outdoors and enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle that includes sports and physical activities. This is one of the reasons why I’m proud that we’re once again sponsoring this ski event. It’s a very unique educational event for brokers, and it’s unbelievably inspiring to be around these athletes.”
Trained guides and instructors are provided by BOEC, a Colorado non-profit organization that is committed to expanding the potential of people with disabilities and special needs through meaningful, educational and inspiring outdoor experiences.
“This event has so many positive outcomes,” said Spahr. “People who are visually impaired learn new skills so they can maintain an active lifestyle, and attendees can interact with Aaron, who is a fantastic role model for everyone.”
For more information, or for a schedule of events, contact Katie Keating, public relations and event coordinator at (719) 866-3222, or go to www.usaba.org.
About United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)
Since its founding in 1976, USABA, a community-based organization of the United States Olympic Committee, has reached more than 100,000 blind individuals. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes, it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. USABA's mission: to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity. For more information go to www.usaba.org.
About Anthem Life
Life and Disability products underwritten by Anthem Life Insurance Company, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.