Amputee War Veterans Surfing Wave of Hope

PISMO BEACH, Calif., June 2, 2006 -- They lost limbs serving our country in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now 20 U.S. servicemen and women at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, are preparing for a new mission. On August 15 the amputee war veterans will travel to Pismo Beach, California, to put on wetsuits and experience the joy of surfing.

The idea started with a Navy Petty Officer who surfed much of his life and didn't want to give it up even though he lost a leg fighting in Iraq. Petty Officer Derek McGinnis contacted Operation Comfort and suggested that surfing might be good therapy for some of the injured veterans. Operation Comfort is a non-profit group that works with wounded servicemen and women at Brooke Army Medical Center by engaging them in adaptive sports and other activities.

"These veterans have given so much for us," Operation Comfort Director Janis Roznowski said. "I couldn't think of a better way to lift their spirits and help them experience what is still possible."

Petty Officer McGinnis and Roznowski called Amputee Surfing Champion Rodney Roller for advice and support. Roller organized a successful surf clinic for civilian amputees in 2004 and he was quick to jump on board.

"I feel so humbled by their service and their sacrifice," said Roller. "I want to help these injured veterans realize that there is life after disability." Roller soon generated a wave of support from the Pismo Beach community and the surfing industry.

Pancho's Surf Shop and North County Prosthetics are sponsoring the five-day surfing clinic. Eric McNeil's Pacific Surf School agreed to provide instruction. Billabong is supplying boards, wetsuits and volunteers. DAKINE is giving out backpacks and other surf accessories for the soldiers.

Nearly $37,000 is still needed for travel and housing expenses for the veterans, family members and necessary staff. If you would like to assist this effort to help amputee war veterans experience surfing, contact Janis Roznowski at http://www.operationcomfort.org or call 512-297-8972.

Volunteer Vacation Opportunities: Turn Holiday Travel into Meaningful Volunteering

Volunteer vacations are a great alternative to routine holiday travel. This summer, you could travel on a volunteer vacation to help your favorite cause, such as: animal protection, child protection, environmental protection, community service, healthcare, or reversing poverty. Volunteer vacations are affordable and can range in duration from a weekend to a year, with many one-week and two-week vacation-volunteering options.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 9, 2006 -- Volunteer Vacations are a great alternative to routine holiday travel. This summer, you could travel on a volunteer vacation to help your favorite cause, such as: animal protection, child protection, environmental protection, community service, healthcare, or reversing poverty.

Volunteer vacations are affordable and can range in duration from a weekend to a year, with many one-week and two-week options. You can volunteer close to home or travel abroad to a service-project site in Europe, Asia, or Africa.

On a trip this summer, you could...

• Travel on an Animal Protection volunteer vacation: Make a difference for fish and wildlife. For instance, you could: help conservationists rehabilitate elephants in Asia and Africa; help save endangered whales through a research expedition or "migration vacation" in Canada or Mexico; or work to rescue orphaned chimpanzees in Uganda.

• Travel on a Child Protection volunteer vacation: Improve the life of a child. For instance, you could: cultivate music appreciation among institutionalized children in Transdnistria and Romania; help operate a dental clinic in Nepal for needy children and families; or volunteer at a peace camp for war-traumatized children in Northern Ireland.

• Travel on a Community Service volunteer vacation: Serve your wider community. For instance, you could: help to eliminate poverty by building a home for the homeless in places from Alaska to Ethiopia; preserve hiking trails in Colorado; or promote sustainable agriculture by helping develop organic farming techniques in Thailand.

• Travel on an Environmental Protection volunteer vacation. Protect the environment. For instance, you could: assist scientists in conducting environmental research projects in Slovakia; help park rangers plant trees in the United Kingdom; or save tropical rainforests in Ecuador.

• Travel on a Healthcare volunteer vacation. Promote health and safety: For instance, you could: join an expedition to restore coral reefs in Fiji; use your medical expertise to provide healthcare services in remote villages in Guatemala or Ghana; or help alleviate the suffering of babies with AIDS or HIV in Tanzania.

• Travel on a Poverty Activist volunteer vacation. Help reduce poverty around the world: Volunteer as a management consultant for an international development project in Russia; teach English to natives of a Himalayan Sherpa village; or use photojournalism to help poverty and homelessness charities to tell their stories.

Most volunteer vacation programs charge fees, which range in price depending on the amount of training and accommodation provided. Volunteer vacation program fees may also defray the costs of extensive pre-trip materials and supplies donated to the school, hospital or community being served. For U. S. residents, part or all of these fees may be tax-deductible.

Through a volunteer vacation, you can gain enriching experiences, memories, and friendships that last a lifetime while making a difference in someone's life. For more examples of volunteer vacations, please visit Charity Guide's Volunteer Vacation Directory.

Charity Guide is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting volunteer vacations and flexible volunteerism. Charity Guide inspires and facilitates acts of kindness that are entirely flexible and immediately actionable.

Water Babes - Ten Girls Yacht Racing Around Britain and Ireland.

Ten remarkable women are racing in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race for a charity which uses sailing to help cancers sufferers and their families to cope with their disease. The girls hope to raise £100,000 and have had some fantasic support including a £12,000 campaign donation from ERM a leading environmental management company and sponsorship from Fat Face. They are now looking for a title sponsor as well as fundraising donations for the charity sail4cancer.org. These inspirational women are brought together by Global Yacht Racing (globalyachtracing.com) for a summer of training and yacht racing to prepare them for up to 2000 nautical miles at sea over an intense racing period of around two weeks.

(PRWEB) May 8, 2006 -- In August next year, ten remarkable women will be racing with Global Yacht Racing (www.globalyachtracing.com) in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2006. They are hoping to raise funds for cancer charity Sail 4 Cancer and have set themselves the massive target of £100,000.

This race represents a true achievement that will provide an unforgettable experience for the all girl amateur crew of the Global Yacht Racing charity yacht who will not only be braving all conditions in the circumnavigation of Britain but will also be supporting a charity close to their hearts.

Sail 4 Cancer (WWW.Sail4Cancer.org) uses sailing as medium to raise funds for cancer treatment, research, care and rehabilitation and also provide sailing opportunities for cancer sufferers and their families. It has branches in UK and Australia.

The money that is donated will pay for 10 sailing centers around Britain and Ireland to provide over 300 ongoing sailing opportunities to cancer patients and their families. These centers will be the Sail 4 Cancer’s ambassadors and will encourage links with their local hospices and cancer support groups enabling the center to be a break from living with the disease.

The challenging race is run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and is due to start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes, Isle of Wight on Monday 7th August 2006. The approximate race distance around the British Isles is some 1760 miles and the first yachts should cross the finishing line about ten days after the start.

The team have now completed the first stage of training and started racing with the Cervantes Race organised by RORC (Royal Ocean Racing Club) on the 29th April 2006. They finished 9th in IRC 0 and their first race as a team only added to their enthusiasm for offshore racing.

Crew member Kate Stallard expresses why she is so passionate to complete the challenge for Sail 4 Cancer “When you get off a boat and you’re standing on the pontoon, as you wipe the salt from behind your ears you think back and remember the clean air rushing into your lungs, the porpoise playing in the bow wave, the sun set not crowded by buildings or trees, and the camaraderie of your team. The ocean delivers us a sense of freedom like no other...so why would you not want to support a charity that gives people the opportunity to go and play in the biggest playground on earth and the opportunity to live a lot more?”

During the next three months the girls will be challenged with not only tackling the tough conditions of the English Channel in the RORC qualifying races but also working towards their target sum of £100,000. Andy Middleton, Managing Director of Global Yacht Racing and trainer of the girls team comments:

“The RORC season and the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race could include tough racing conditions but I am confident that the 50ft Beneteau 47.7 race cruiser that Global Yacht has chosen for the season will provide an excellent mix of performance and strength to take on an offshore race of this magnitude”.

Global Yacht Racing are also looking for motivated, adventurous individuals to take part in a variety of worldwide yacht races, full training yacht race coaching is given. To apply for a place in worldwide ocean races or regattas such as the Rolex Sydney to Hobart, The Fastnet, Skandia Cowes Week or Antigua Race Week check out the company's website.

Recent success includes a fundraising Easter dinner hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club where a total of £1193.15 was raised. During the Warsash Spring Series the girls have also been busy putting their customer service skills to the test by washing cars and delivering coffees and bacon sandwiches to raise more donations. Their pub quizzes and parties are also legendary! You can get all the news about the girls at their homepage on the Sail 4 Cancer website. (sail4cancer.org)

To find out more or donate to the girl’s campaign check out www.sail4cancer.org

If you want to join a team racing in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race contact Claire at Global Yacht Racing on +44 (0) 1983299667 or visit the Global Yacht Racing Website at www.globalyachtracing.com