My name is Sarah Heacox and I've been a volunteer ski instructor at the U.S. Adaptive Recreation Center for several years, teaching downhill skiing to individuals with disabilities. I'm participating in a USARC fundraiser called the Peak-to-Peak Pedal, riding a bicycle 335 miles from Mammoth Mountain to Big Bear this fall. The money we raise supports outdoor recreation for children and adults with disabilities. This will be my second year riding the Peak-to-Peak!
USARC is the only organization in Southern California to provide camping, fishing, off-road downhill wheelchair riding, canoeing, sailing, jet skiing, water skiing, snowboarding and snow skiing instruction to the disabled community. Their website states,
"USARC believes people are empowered when they undertake and succeed at challenging outdoor recreation. These experiences often result in increased self-confidence and greater success in academic, professional and personal life challenges."
In other words, opportunities to play in the outdoors, like skiing and camping, are far more than just recreation. They represent a chance to build skills and self-esteem to help people achieve goals in every aspect of their lives.
I'm asking for your support in the form of a donation to USARC. My fundraising goal is $1800 by October 1st.
Please click here to go to the secure donation site! All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for supporting USARC and athletes with disabilities!
PS You can also give me a check made out to USARC (contact me at sarah (dot) heacox (at) gmail (dot) com), or go to http://acteva.com/go/p2p15 , select "Donor" and press continue, and select "Rider-Sarah Heacox".
PPS You can see pictures of me riding in last year's 2008 Peak-to-Peak Pedal 14 here!
[Images: 1. Me and Talia, a seven-year-old with autism, in her first ski lesson. The huge smile never left her face. 2. Me and Emma in her bi-ski, enjoying some cocoa slopeside after a long chilly day of fun skiing. 3. USARC logo. 4. 15th Annual Peak-to-Peak Pedal logo.]
