The VAU goal(s) and plan(s) for VAU Accessible Wellness Retreats are to provide accessible
retreats with adaptive recreational and therapeutic opportunities that will aid in the recovery process for disabled veterans, their caregivers and family members. VAU quantitative goal for this program is to serve 400+ disabled veterans and their family members. Expected outcomes include meeting their recovery goals for the Veteran and family as determined by the Veterans treatment/transition team.Also, the quality of veterans’ relationships, their self-confidence, self-esteem and their abilities to
reach their goals of maximizing independence. VAU retreats locations will be in the mountains and at the beach in Virginia and North Carolina, a lakefront Richmond, Virginia property and Snow mass Colorado. Twenty eight Richmond lakefront retreats every 4th Wednesday of the month March through September and 28 accessible single family retreats in various locations for 2024 and 2025. As well as a Winter Sports Clinic in Snow mass Colorado in March of 2024 and 2025 and a Virginia Beach Summer Sports/ Accessible Recreation Activities Retreat from May 30 to June 2nd of 2024 and 2025. During the retreats, veterans and their loved ones receive valuable resources, peer mentorship, advocacy support, participation in accessible activities and opportunities for much needed
rest and relaxation. In addition to accessing information and resource sharing, veterans also participate in accessible activities such as adaptive skiing,Scuba diving, fishing, skydiving, fishing, hunting, adaptive water skiing, adaptive surfing, hand cycling, yoga, and much more. VAU have seen through experience and through support that providing these retreats at no cost to veterans and their caregivers can be the decisive point to benefiting their recovery process and participate in activities that take them beyond the limits of their disability. Founded in 2013, Veterans and Athletes United is an all-volunteer led veterans 501c3 non-profit organization, established by combat veterans with disabilities and operated by veterans and dedicated professionals. VAU leadership and Board of Directors is committed to providing much needed services and support to disabled veterans and their families through physical activity, awareness, fellowship, education offered via accessible wellness retreats, adaptive recreation and sports, employment and job support, and the VAU Fallen Heroes Memorials. Through strong partnerships with many great nonprofits, corporations and community-based organizations, VAU strives to continue its mission to
empower veterans with disabilities to fully live their lives and honor the fallen service members and their families. VAU offers tailored programs like Accessible Wellness Retreats,Adaptive Sports and Recreation, Vet-Net, and VAU Fallen Heroes Memorial. Accessible Wellness Retreats serve on average 40-96 SCI individuals at the monthly retreats..The monthly retreats directly serve the SCI through working closely with many veteran organizations and the local Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center(Spinal Cord Injury, Poly trauma and long term living care units)
so VAU is able to identify and help veterans in critical need of support as well as newly injured veterans.Also, the lakefront Richmond, VA property works closely with a long-term living care at Sitter Barfoot to provide newly injured patients from spinal cord injury department.These retreats are separately coordinated throughout the year through the Veterans Affairs staff. On average VAU serves about thirty spinal cord injury veterans at these retreats. The single family retreats are at twenty accessible properties located through the mid-Atlantic, and generally VAU serves ten disabled veterans each year through these properties and about 80% of them have SCI for mobility issues. Furthermore, VAU has two larger retreats, the Winter Sports Retreat and Virginia Beach Retreat which also serve
SCI disabled veterans. The Winter Sports Retreat is a yearly retreat and a VAU staff member is sent along with on average twelve SCI disabled veterans for this event.Most of the SCI disabled veterans come from the Mid-Atlantic. This year VAU will have twenty five disabled veterans that will be attending this, free at no cost retreat. Then, the Virginia Beach Retreat is a yearly retreat that serves about twelve disabled veterans on this retreat.On average six to eight are SCI disabled veterans. VAU works closely with many veteran service organizations and the local Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center,Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, Semper Fi
Fund,Christopher Reeve Foundation to identify and help veterans in critical need of support
as well as newly disabled veterans. Also, Tom Ashmore provides his Cane Loyalty program for the Richmond Retreats,Ocean Cure in North Carolina provides adaptive surfing and body boarding for the area retreats at the beach and Beyond Boundaries and Peak Performance climbing groups collaborate for kayaking rafting and rock climbing at several retreats.Occasionally, Reach Cycles a non-profit organization will have bike recipients that are children come out to support the veterans and provide a great perspective and school groups volunteer.Our leadership team has individuals with SCI and works with a diverse group of volunteers and project staff to provide the best quality service at our retreats and continued engagement to help veterans and their caregivers/families achieve long-term success.
