Wounded Warrior Team to Climb Denali, Highest Mountain in North America

By Press Release

Rockville, MD, May 22, 2012 (Globe Newswire)—Disabled Sports USA
(DSUSA), one of the nation's largest sport organizations for people
with disabilities, announced its Team Warfighter Sports' climb of
Denali (Mt. McKinley) in Alaska, the highest mountain in North America
and one of the coldest in the world. Guided by Mountain Trip, the climb
is set to begin on June 10, shortly after Memorial Day, to honor the
sacrifices of America's heroes, and end around Independence Day, a day
that celebrates the freedoms won by military service members.

The team includes five climbers, with only four "good legs" between
them, from three wars and two generations: retired Army Sgt. Neil
Duncan, 29, a double-leg amputee injured in Afghanistan; Marine Capt.
David Borden, 31, who, after losing his leg above the knee to a suicide
bomb in Iraq in 2008, returned to combat in Afghanistan in 2011;
retired Army Cpl. Steve Martin, 42, a double-leg amputee injured in
Afghanistan; retired Army Capt. Jesse Acosta, 34, who suffered
permanent damage to hip, leg and back in Iraq; and retired Army Sgt.
Kirk Bauer, JD, 64, an above-knee amputee injured in Vietnam and the
Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA for the past 29 years.

"After losing my leg in 2008, I never imagined I would be able return
to active duty in the military. Sports have played a very important
role in my recovery and I appreciate what Disabled Sports USA has done
to help me rebuild my life. The opportunity to climb the highest
mountain in North America is a tremendous challenge that will allow me
to prove to myself and anyone else with a disability that DSUSA's motto
is true: 'If I can do this, I can do anything!'" Borden said.

The challenging climb symbolizes the difficulties wounded warriors,
their families, and others with disabilities face going through
hospitalization and rehabilitation. "After serving thousands of
severely injured service members from Iraq and Afghanistan through
rehabilitation sports programs for the past nine years, our disabled
veterans are now yearning for more opportunities to test their skills
to the extreme, as they did in the military," Bauer said. "They can now
literally climb some of the tallest mountains in the world to challenge
themselves and inspire others to become active and reach their goals
and dreams." In 2010, Bauer led a successful all-amputee wounded
warrior team, which included Duncan, up Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Denali climb benefits Warfighter Sports, a program of Disabled
Sports USA, an organization that has served severely wounded warriors
since 1967. Warfighter Sports offers free sports rehabilitation for
severely wounded warriors in military hospitals and communities across
the U.S. Over 5,600 wounded warriors and families have been served
since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began. Warfighter Sports
rebuilds lives through sports by improving self-confidence, promoting
independence and uniting families through shared healthy activities.

"Chartis is proud to make a difference in the lives of our nation's
wounded warriors through our support of Disabled Sports USA's
Warfighter Sports. This program enables our wounded warriors to live
out their love of sport and competition and realize their hopes and
dreams in life," said John Doyle, Chief Executive Officer of Global
Commercial Insurance for Chartis.

Key sponsors of the climb also include: Tee it up for the Troops, Team
Semper Fi, American Airlines, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, and Leonidas
International, a foundation started by climber Acosta.

Follow Team Warfighter Sports' progress, view photos and support the
team at
http://www.crowdrise.com/wsdenalichallenge/fundraiser/disabledsportsusa
4.

About Warfighter Sports

Warfighter Sports, a program of Disabled Sports USA, offers sports
rehabilitation for severely wounded warriors in military hospitals and
communities across the U.S. through a nationwide network of over 100
community-based chapters. Since 1967, Disabled Sports USA has proudly
served wounded warriors, including those injured in the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars, offering over 30 winter and summer sports at more
than 100 events each year. Warfighter Sports rebuilds lives through
sports by improving self-confidence, promoting independence and uniting
families through shared healthy activities.

Contributions cover all expenses for participation, including
individualized adaptive instruction, adaptive sports equipment,
transportation, lodging and meals for the warrior and a family member.
Since 2003, more than 5,600 of the most severely wounded and their
families have been served, including those with amputations, traumatic
brain injury, spinal cord injury, visual impairments, and significant
nerve and muscle damage. For more information, visit
www.warfightersports.org.

CONTACT:

Mark McLaughlinRon Sonntag Public RelationsPhone: (414) 354-0200E-mail:
Mark@rspr.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com