DIVING NEWS ITEM

3rd Annual Adaptive Water Sports Festival

THURSDAY, 28 JUNE 2007

As part of the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, a partnership between Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled Sports USA, severely wounded soldiers from the ongoing war on terror will have the opportunity to learn adaptive water skiing, scuba diving and other water sports as guests at the 2007 Adaptive Water Sports Festival. Specially trained volunteers from the Fire Department of New York City (FDNY) will be on hand to teach these sporting skills to those with amputations and other severe injuries. Activities for this year include water- skiing, scuba diving, sailing and fishing. The Adaptive Water Sports Festival will take place in Rockaway Point (QUEENS), New York from July 12-15, 2007.

The Rockaway community was one of the hardest hit on Sept. 11, 2001 and ravaged again by the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 just two months later. Yet, the community proved resilient and responded with a surge of empathy, and charitable endeavors. Most notably, the Graybeards were formed, a non-profit dedicated to helping those in need. It is through the Graybeards, Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled Sports USA, that this event is again possible.

"With the war in Iraq and Afghanistan continuing, it is more important than ever that we all step to the plate to provide whatever is needed to care for and support our service men and women who are being severely injured while serving our country," said Kirk Bauer, Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran. "Disabled Sports USA and Wounded Warrior Project are helping to meet that need at the Adaptive Water Sports Festival. Our Wounded Warriors deserve no less."

"To witness wounded soldiers water-skiing and scuba diving is an amazing feat," stated Wounded Warrior Project Executive Director John Melia. "Many able-bodied people are not brave enough to take on this challenge and I am filled with pride to see our wounded service men and women once again acting courageously and pushing their bodies to the limit."

The weekend will kick off with the Heroes in the Harbor Voyage on Friday July 13 at 6:30 pm. The dinner cruise on the luxury yacht Atlantis is in memory of Michael D. Glover, Lance Corporal, USMC killed in combat on August 16, 2006. For a full schedule of events, please contact Kathy Celo at 412- 427-9618.

Read more about this news at sev.prnewswire.com.

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