Washington, DC ---"Changing Lives One Wheelchair at a Time" is the theme of this year's celebration of veterans at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 50 Irving Street, N.W., Washington, DC. The event, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 10, recognizes Veterans Day and the significant contributions of veterans to our nation. This year's program specifically highlights improving veterans' health through fitness, especially those veterans using wheelchairs.
The event will include the donation of hundreds of wheelchairs by the Wheelchair Foundation and the Knights of Columbus, and a VA Champion Challenge "Walk and Roll" on the new walking path at the Medical Center. The VA Champion Challenge is a new national VA program designed to promote fitness in both VA employees and the veterans they serve.
Veterans and VA employees will be challenged to participate in the "Walk and Roll" along a newly designated one-mile walking path at the Washington DC Medical Center (DCVAMC). The kick-off for the VA Champion Challenge at DCVAMC will follow the ceremonies on Saturday. Fernando O. Rivera, Medical Center Director, will be joined by veterans, volunteers, employees and visitors walking and rolling the first mile.
Over the next 100 days, participants in the VA Champion Challenge will commit to walk or roll for health - one mile each day. Pedometers and tracking forms will be provided to those interested. Recognition certificates and awards will be offered to recognize participants who complete certain milestones in the Challenge (twenty-five miles, fifty-miles, etc).
Through generous contributions by the Wheelchair Foundation and the Knights of Columbus, several hundred wheelchairs will be donated, at this event, to veterans who need them. These two organizations want to demonstrate their appreciation to those who served this nation through this generous donation. This donation supplements VA's support of these veterans.
Veterans needing a wheelchair must be enrolled for care at the Medical Center and pre-register with the Voluntary Service Office at 202-745-8320. The Washington DC VA Medical Center will receive a total of 500 wheelchairs, those not distributed directly to patients will be used to transport patients within the facility, or donated to veterans using the Martinsburg, West Virginia VA Medical Center, the VA Medical Center in Baltimore, MD or residing in the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC.
Medical Center Director, Fernando O. Rivera, is encouraging wide participation from the veteran community in the VA Champion Challenge. "Please join me by taking these first steps toward good health. If not for yourself, do it for your families and loved ones."
The Wheelchair Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission it is to provide wheelchairs to those in need. These chairs bring independence to those deprived of mobility by war, ill health or poverty. Their global network delivers 10,000 wheelchairs a month.
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal benefit society celebrating 125 years of offering assistance to the sick, disabled and needy.
For additional information about this event, contact the Office of Public Affairs at 202-745-4037 or visit our website at http://www.washingtondc.va.gov/.