Injured Veterans Participating in Anthem Winter Ski Festival

Achieve Tahoe Hosting Annual Camp for Veterans with Disabilities

Alpine Meadows, Calif.- Achieve Tahoe, a provider of winter and summer adaptive sports instruction for adults and children with disabilities, is hosting its 10th annual Anthem Winter Ski Festival January 22-25, 2019 in North Lake Tahoe.

Sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Warfighter Sports, a program offered by Disabled Sports USA, the program provides a group of veterans who were wounded during their service with complimentary ski and snowboard lessons, overnight accommodations in the Village at Squaw Valley, meals and transportation.

“Achieve Tahoe is excited to once again provide specialized instruction to our servicemen and women with disabilities and help them build confidence, independence and find healing through this great event.” said Haakon Lang-Ree, executive director of Achieve Tahoe. “Thanks to the support of Anthem Blue Cross, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Disabled Sports USA, this event has a tremendous impact on the participants and their families and it will continue to be an annual tradition.”

“Anthem is once again very proud to be the lead sponsor for this event, which reflects our commitment to improving people’s lives and the communities we serve,” said Greg Poulakos, president of Anthem’s Life and Disability business.

“Over the last 10 years of sponsoring this event, it’s been incredible to see the men and women who have given so much to this country re-engaging in activities that are challenging, exciting and help to enhance their active lifestyles.”

Greg Poulakos, Anthem

The injured veterans will travel to the area from all over the country to participate in specialized private ski and snowboard instruction that will be specifically designed to support their physical therapy, boost their emotional well-being, build their confidence and ultimately help their reintegration into their communities. The attendees are also invited to bring a guest to share in their experience, and to provide them with support and encouragement.

This year’s event includes a special guest speaker, retired U.S. Army Corporal Steve Martin, who served in the U.S. Army and National Guard for eight years. Martin was injured in Afghanistan in 2008 by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on operations as a State Department contractor. As a result of his injuries, he lost both legs below the knee. “After I was injured, I didn’t think I would walk, much less ski. Thanks to participating in adaptive sports, my life went from ‘what do I do now?’ to ‘what do I do next?’ said Martin. Determined not to be limited by his injury, Martin not only learned to walk again, but he’s also competed in more than 20 half marathons, three full marathons and completed a successful summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. Martin recently retired from his job as an Arizona State Trooper and was the only double-leg amputee in the country serving as a patrol officer.

About Achieve Tahoe

Achieve Tahoe is a North Lake Tahoe-based non-profit organization that provides year-round outdoor recreation programs for children and adults with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities. The organization, founded in 1967, is the longest operating adaptive sports program in the country, and is dedicated to providing affordable, inclusive physical and recreational activities that build health and confidence through winter and summer programs. To learn more or to help, visit www.achievetahoe.org.