TriSoldier Project and Paralyzed Veterans of America Taking Team of Five Disabled Veterans to Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens, WA - July 12th, 2010 - Through a partnership with Paralyzed Veterans of America, the TriSoldier Project will be taking a team of five disabled veterans to the Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens on August 15th, 2010. The TriSoldiers, Sean Halsted, Tarus Nelson, John Dicorce, Kevin McNease and Derik Weida come from varied backgrounds across the country. They have two things in common, they are classified as a disabled veteran by the Veterans Administration and they have used the sport of triathlon to overcome the effects of their
injuries.
TriSoldier Derek Weida served as an Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division. He suffered a gunshot wound through the right knee in Iraq in June of 2007. He has lost significant range of motion and can no longer run.
TriSailor Petty Officer Kevin McNease served in the US Navy for 20 years as a Rescue Swimmer. Cumulative trauma left him with a 50% disability after surgeries to his hip and shoulders.
TriSoldier Sergeant Tarus Nelson served as a US Army Combat Engineer for four years. He was injured in a convoy accident which left him with a shattered left arm, two broken collar bones, fractured skull, broken jaw, severed tongue and internal injuries.
TriSoldier Sergeant John DiCroce served as a US Army Infantryman for seven years. He was injured and following three reconstructive knee surgeries, forced to retire.
Through the Paralyzed Veterans of America partnership, we will be able to provide travel, lodging, food, race entry and uniforms for the athletes.
TriSoldier was founded in 2009 by former army officer and USA Triathlon certified coach Jeff Trout as a way to provide coaching to disabled veterans who want to participate in the sport of triathlon. After an article was posted about TriSoldier by USA Triathlon on their website, the organization took off quickly. Many people across the county contacted TriSoldier with offers to help. TriSoldier started a coaching directory which lists coaches throughout the country who pledged to donate their time to disabled veterans in their local area.
In February of this year, Andy MacDonald, Associate Director of Sports and Recreation of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, stepped in and provided support to put together the Lake Stevens event. Jeff Trout, Executive Director of the TriSoldier Project feels this partnership will expand in the future.
"Andy came to us and offered us a chance to take TriSoldier to the next level. Hopefully going forward, we will be able to return the favor to the PVA by providing support to the paratriathlete community." Trout goes on to say "Andy and I have talked about expanding to at least six races next year, and our plan at TriSoldier is to raise money to provide grants to athletes for training and equipment in the future. I don't think the average person realizes the expense associated with prosthesis, handcycles and racing wheelchairs that disabled athletes depend on for training as well as competition."
For more information on the TriSoldier Project, visit their website at www.trisoldier.org or their Facebook page. The Paralyzed Veterans of America is located on the web at www.pva.org.
Contact:
Jeff Trout
Jefft@trisoldier.org
Ph: 530-305-6602
