The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) will host more than 40 Colorado veteran recreational athletes from Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Student Veterans at Metro State University at the 3rd Annual NSCD Paralympic Experience for Veterans on Thursday, Jan. 8, at Snow Mountain Ranch, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event is funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through a grant and a donation from the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver.

The special day-long event includes four sports: cross-country skiing, Nordic biathlon, curling, and snowshoeing (not a Paralympic sport). The NSCD developed this event because it wanted to engage military veterans to continue sports and recreation as part of their lifestyle, in addition to rehab and recovery.

The winter program for veterans is structured to promote self-esteem, pride, and a sense of accomplishment for all attending service men and women as they expand their independence skills from their caregivers and overcome challenges once thought insurmountable.

“We want to grow our opportunities for veterans to try Paralympic sports,” said Becky Zimmermann, president and CEO of the NSCD. “We have several successful veterans in our competition and recreational programs from alpine and snowboard to cross-country and Nordic biathlon.”

To learn more about NSCD and how to donate, visit http://www.nscd.org.