New England Handicapped Sports Association –
A Life Changing Experience for Participants
and Volunteers

For Immediate Release
Mount Sunapee Resort
2006-2007 Winter Season
Contact: Bruce McCloy (603) 763-3500
bmccloy@mtsunapee.com

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

NEHSA offers adaptive lessons to people of all ages and disabilities.  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, people recovering from strokes or polio, people with developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy and others.  The sit-down program, using mono-ski sleds and bi-ski sleds, accommodates people with spina bifida, muscular sclerosis or dystrophy as well as paraplegics and quadriplegics.

NEHSA provides a full 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 150 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, “It’s not only a life changing experience for our students, in many cases it’s a life changing experience for our staff.  I have seen them moved to tears after spending a day with a student.”

January 8th through the 12th, 2007 NEHSA will be hosting the 10th Annual New England Winter Sports Clinic for Disabled Veterans.  This clinic promotes rehabilitation by instructing physically challenged veterans in adaptive alpine sports.  This event is attended by veterans from across the country.  In March NEHSA together with Mount Sunapee, hosts a Veterans Outreach Day as a thank you to servicemen and women and their families.

NESHA is supported entirely through charitable donations from individuals, corporations and grants.  Fund raisers include a golf tournament in August, a ski-a-thon in February and a corporate challenge and auction in March. 

For more information visit nehsa.org or call 603-763-9158.