A Life-Changing Opportunity with Adaptive Sports
At 71, Army Veteran Charles “Charlie Ray” Powell proves it’s never too late to embrace new challenges.
“I am looking forward to attending the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colorado,” said Powell. “I’m getting to do things now that I’ve never been able to do because of the VA and Recreation Therapy affording me the opportunity.”
For Powell, this experience is more than just a bucket list adventure—it’s life-changing.
A resident of Henderson, North Carolina, and a patient at the Durham VA Health Care System, Powell prepares this month to participate in sports events in Snowmass, Colorado, from March 30 to April 5, 2025.
“Skiing, snowmobiling, and scuba diving have been on my bucket list for a long time,” said Powell. "These events and recreation therapy programming have saved my life and given me a whole new outlook.”
The transformative ability of adaptive sports and recreation therapy offered by the VA empowers disabled Veterans to conquer physical and mental challenges through sports like skiing, snowmobiling, and scuba diving.
Co-sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic provides nearly 400 disabled Veterans with opportunities to challenge perceived limitations, such as with spinal cord injuries, amputations, and PTSD.
Powell also competes in the National Disabled Veterans Wheelchair Games. Through determination and perseverance, his mission is to empower Veterans through rehabilitation and shared experiences.
These programs are a lifeline to many Veterans. They provide not only physical rehabilitation but also emotional healing, renewed purpose, improved physical health, and confidence.
“These events and recreation therapy have saved my life and given me a whole new outlook on everything,” said Powell. “It gives me something to look forward to every year.”
Adaptive sports help Veterans rebuild confidence by challenging their limits. They promote empowerment and connection among participants while fostering camaraderie within a supportive community.
As Powell takes on the slopes of Snowmass for the first time, he hopes his story will inspire fellow Veterans to join adaptive sports events in the future to reclaim their lives and embrace new possibilities.