A Mountain of Smiles in Winter Park
For 41 years Children's Hospital Colorado has been giving patients a chance to live, laugh and ski through their handicapped ski program. Emily Bartlett , 12, who has been in the ski program for two years, understands that you need to have a positive outlook on life. Two years ago she had her left leg amputated below the knee because of a vascular malformation. Her instructor in the ski program, Gwen Tschorke, was diagnosed with bone cancer and had to have her left leg amputated over twenty-four years ago. Watch the Video from 9News.com
Emily Bartlett skiing with instructor Gwen Tschorke at
Winter Park. Photo courtesy of 9news.com
Gwen and Emily ski by using outriggers, two small skis attached to the ends of their ski poles. The program uses a variety of other equipment and teaching techniques to make the program inclusive for children with other handicaps.
Children's Hospital Colorado works in conjunction with the National Sports Center for the Disabled based at the Winter Park .
