BETHEL — Maine Handicapped Skiing, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1982 at Sunday River to provide free adaptive recreation opportunities for children and adults with physical disabilities. The organization currently serves over 350 participants statewide through year-round programs that include alpine and nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, golf, canoeing, kayaking, and cycling.

Since the 2007/2008 season, MHS has run an alpine skiing program at Sugarloaf on weekends throughout each winter.

“When Boyne Resorts assumed the management of Sugarloaf in 2007, they also embraced continued philanthropic support to MHS participants and volunteers. It is primarily due to this generosity that MHS is able to offer its alpine skiing and snowboarding programs free of charge to all participants,” says Executive Director Peter Adams.

At Sugarloaf this winter, MHS will continue to run its adaptive alpine skiing and snowboarding lessons and programs on Saturday and Sunday each week throughout January through March. Ten-20 participants aged four and older will arrive weekly on their own, with their families or with MHS volunteers. They gather in the King Pine Room so visitors are always welcome.

Additionally, MHS will sponsor weekly bus service from Bangor to help additional participants overcome the transportation barrier. MHS has also developed several partnerships with various school districts, rehabilitation facilities and service/care providers to engage more people with disabilities throughout Maine in adaptive skiing and recreation, and many of those partnerships have yielded additional transportation opportunities for participants.

Lastly, several smaller adaptive alpine programs at other mountains hope to partner with MHS this year to offer opportunities to hone their skills on Sugarloaf’s incredible terrain and exhilarating vertical drop.

Beyond MHS’s daily general programs, some additional specific events and program highlights this winter include:

MHS Adaptive Alpine Race Team — Saturdays

throughout winter

The MHS Alpine Racing program was started nine years ago to give participants, families and volunteers an opportunity to enhance their experiences and refine their skills through competition, travel, and year-round training and nutrition. Several MHS racers compete at the national level, and former MHS athletes have gone on to race with the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team at the Paralympics. The MHS Alpine Race Team trains at Sunday River or Sugarloaf each Saturday, and racers and coaches travel throughout New England to compete against other adaptive programs and racers.

MHS Outreach

As part of the organization’s strategic plan and ambitions for growth, MHS is actively engaged in year-round efforts to develop and maintain partnerships to help attract new participants and volunteers, as well as to fundraise. Several exciting and mutually-beneficial relationships are in the formative stages for the 2009/2010 season.

25th Annual Ski-A-Thon -– Saturday, March 27, 2010

Skiers, fundraisers and corporations from throughout New England gather each March at Sunday River to raise money for Maine Handicapped Skiing, Maine’s largest adaptive recreation program for children and adults with physical disabilities. Since 1985, the Ski-A-Thon has been the largest source of revenue that supports MHS’s year-round programs, all of which are free for participants. Beginning this fall, skiers and riders throughout Maine will begin soliciting pledges for their fundraising teams. On March 27, over 100 teams of five will submit pledges they raise during the previous weeks and months, and participate in activities and races throughout the alpine resort and cross-country center at Sunday River. Dozens of businesses also pitch in each year by sponsoring fundraising teams, donating cash and supplies, and assisting with event operations. Last year, the Ski-A-Thon raised over $275,000. This year’s event will also feature additional opportunities to celebrate Sunday River’s 50th birthday.

Volunteers

The core of MHS is the over 400 dedicated and passionate volunteers who donate their time and energy. More than 3,000 volunteer days are given annually to Maine Handicapped Skiing to provide over 3,700 lessons winter and summer all at no cost to the participants. MHS trains intermediate and higher level skiers interested in volunteering in teaching techniques and the use of adaptive equipment. Qualified candidates are asked to commit ten volunteer days per season. Volunteers are always sought and considered for supporting each of our program sites throughout the season.

For more information on supporting Maine Handicapped Skiing or becoming involved as a participant or volunteer, contact MHS via phone (800) 639-7770 or email info@skimhs.org or visit the Web site www.skimhs.org.