The US Para Bobsled association exists primarily to promote, fund, support and advance opportunities for disabled athletes and enable them to participate in the sport of boblsed and skeleton here in the USA and around the world. Changing stereotypes "one sled and one athlete at a time" is our mission. Often times a life changing accident, illness or war time effort can result in significant loss of limb, weakness, paralysis, independance and physical ability of a loved one which can also effect the "human spirit." Providing the means, opportunities and ability for a disabled athlete to experience the thrills and exhilirating sport of Bobsled and Skeleton can help change that and provide for a better quality of life as well as increased personal self esteem. Learning to pilot, run and push a boblsed as a team along side other able bodied and disabled athletes can and will help to bring growth and equal opportunities to participate in the sport by smashing stereotypes while leading to a sence of personal growth and incredable achievement. It takes a great deal of mental and physical strength to negotiate 15 curves at 80 mph and 5 G's of gravity all while after experiencing a life changing event that might otherwise prevent such an opportunity. Currently, the US Para-Bobsled and Skeleton Associaion is the only 501c-3 not for profit organization in the USA that continues to pioneer, organize, recruit, fund, develop and train US disabled athletes for upcomming National and International Paralympic driving schools and competition. As our sport continues to grow there is a clear need for additional equipment, staff ,funding and personel necessary to adequately support our disabled athlete community in these sports. Soon however, we hope to integrate our efforts more closely with our able bodied counterparts at the USBSF which serves as the national governing body of the sport in the USA. The USBSF is also a highly successfull non-profit organization whose GOLD MEDAL athletes are also deserving of your financial consideration. While its current mission is to suppport US able bodied athletes in the these Olympic Sports, it has also been instrumental and supportive of our disabled athlete population by recently serving as an agent to the Sports International Federation allowing for the successfull operation of the very first international "Paralympic driving school for disabled athletes here in the USA and the World. Unfortuneatley, however, the teams one and only specially adapted bobsled owned by the organization was in a mishap resulting in its retirement. Your donation and special contribution can and will help to replace the only 2man specially adapted bobsled in the USA thereby continuing to enable many US disabled athletes with the opportunity to participate in this sport. Or, you may choose to simply help sponsor and scholarship financially challenged disabled athletes thus allowing them to learn, train, and participate in our developing sport locally and internationally. Either way, Thank you for your interest and financial consideration of our organization to fulfill your philanthropic needs. There are many disabled athletes here in UTAH and thru out the USA including our wounded warriors that would very much appreciate your giving and support! AND, above all, thank you for helping to improve our disabled athletes quality of life and re-ignite the human and competitive spirit within all of us ! Please donate today.