2013 Transpac Team Challenged America, Join Us To Hawaii

Join Us To Hawaii

2013 Transpac Team Challenged America

Aloha,

Challenged America will be in the Transpacific Yacht Race this July 8th, 2013.  Urban Miyares, Co-Founder and David Hopkins, Director of Vessel & Gift Donations for the charitable Challenged America program will be double handed racing on a Tripp 40 sailboat called B’Quest.  What makes their entry special is that Urban Miyares is blind, has Type 1 diabetes (and a host of other medical issues), and David Hopkins has a hearing impairment.  Both of them are disabled veterans … and well seasoned sailboat racers and they intend to win this race.

Why Are They Doing This Race to Hawaii?

Urban and David are dedicated volunteers helping those with physical and hidden impairment through therapeutic sailing and racing programs.  They have literally changed the lives of so many.  Now they are on a quest to bring attention to Challenged America and the needs of the many fellow disabled veterans, as well as to others with disabilities and their loved ones.

 

A Life of Sailing After Death

Urban Miyares’ story is well-known in the veteran community.  Army infantry platoon Sgt. Miyares was presumed dead during an operation in Viet Nam in 1968 and was placed in a (KIA) body bag when, after two days, a combat medic, assigned to toe-tag the dead soldiers, found him still breathing. From that extraordinary incident and for the next 45 years, Miyares’ has gone on to grow several businesses, become a world class Alpine skier, and has developed his sailing skills to be a competitive offshore racer.

Transpac:  The Famous Race Across the Pacific

The Transpacific Yacht Race (Transpac) is now into its second century.  This legendary race began in 1906 by the request of King David Kalakaua of the Hawaiian Islands.  He felt that this race would strengthen the islands’ economic and cultural ties with the mainland.  Clarence MacFarlane, a racing sailor from Honolulu, initiated the race with other sailors off the coast of San Pedro.  The original starting point was to be San Francisco, but due to the earthquake and fire of 1906, just 27 days prior to the intended starting date, the starting point was changed to Point Fermin in San Pedro, California.  The finish line is off the Diamond Head Lighthouse in Honolulu, Hawaii totaling 2,225 nautical miles.

The challenging race course takes competitors through a myriad of unforeseen conditions: from the cold, wet Northeastern Pacific, through doldrums, enormous seas, abundant squalls and scorching heat, to the blustery trade winds of the Molokai Channel near the finish.  With their start date of July 8th, Urban & David anticipate an arrival in Honolulu of July 19 – 20, with a podium appearance, with you (hopefully) being at the dock in Hawaii for the traditional Aloha Welcome and following ceremonies. With much media coverage assured, you will also be able to follow this race on both the Challenged America website (ChallengedAmerica.org) and on the Transpacific Yacht Club’s race website (www.TranspacRace.com).

Come With Us To Hawaii.

You can be a part of the (Sponsorship) crew with David Hopkins and Urban Miyares as they make this most-challenging and demanding crossing to Hawaii.  Your support will help expand the scope of this 36 year old therapeutic Challenged America adaptive sailing program to reach the lives of thousands of kids, adults, and veterans (wounded warriors) with disabilities.

Click on the link bellow  for the information on Sponsoring the Challenged America Program and Urban and David in the 2013 Transpac Race to Hawaii.

Team Challenged America Transpac 2013 Sponsor Program

We eagerly look forward to your support.

Mahalo,

2013 Transpac Team Challenged America Campaign Committee

Tom Jarvis, Cpt. Ken Guyer, John Dodge, Dave Myer, Chris Carstens, Philippe Gadeyne

P.S.  Challenged America is a therapeutic and rehabilitative program of the charitable and educational (501c3) Disabled Businesspersons Association, a volunteer-driven organization enhancing the lives of thousands with disabilities each year.  All support, sponsorship, gifts and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by the law.  Tax-Exempt #)33-0484461, Disabled Businesspersons Association.

P.S.S.  You can make your donation by sending a check to “Challenged America<” or by PayPal at ChallengedAmerica.org, or  talk to someone about Sponsoring Team Challenged America in the 2013 Transpac by either emailing your contact information to or call (619) 523-9318.

San Diego Entrepreneur Helps Fellow Veterans Through New Initiative at The Hadley School for the Blind

Urban Miyares, president of the San Diego-based Disabled Businesspersons Association, has been named outreach specialist for a new Blinded Veterans Initiative at The Hadley School for the Blind. Miyares is a blinded and multi-disabled veteran who brings more than 40 years experience as an entrepreneur to his new role.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are an estimated 158,300 legally blind veterans and 700,000 veterans with low vision. In addition, approximately 7,000 veterans become newly blind or visually impaired each year from non-combat related causes. Compounding the problem is that approximately 70 percent of working age Americans who are blind or visually impaired are unemployed or underemployed.

Read more

Meet Challenged America at the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show

Stop in and meet Challenged America volunteers and participants at the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show this weekend

Did you know? 1 in 5 Americans live with a disability

54 million Americans live with a disability, that’s 19% of the population

  • 5 percent of children 5 to 17 have disabilities.
  • 10 percent of people 18 to 64 have disabilities.
  • 38 percent of adults 65 and older have disabilities.
    Source: 2008 American Community Survey
  • 12.4% are female
  • 11.7% are male
    Source: 2008 American Community Survey
  • 11 million Americans are using or need assistance with everyday activities. These activities include such tasks as getting around inside the home, taking a bath or shower, preparing meals and performing light housework.
  • 3.3 million Americans 15 and older use a wheelchair, another 10 million use a walking aid, such as a cane, crutches or walker.
  • 1.8 million Americans 15 and older who report being unable to see printed words.
  • 1 million Americans 15 and older are unable to hear conversations.
  • 2.5 million Americans 15 and older have difficulty having their speech understood. Of these, 431,000 were unable to have their speech understood.
  • 16.1 million Americans have limitations in cognitive functioning or have a mental or emotional illness that interferes with daily activities. That’s 7 percent of the population 15 and older, including 8 million with one or more problems that interfere with daily activities, such as frequently being depressed or anxious, trouble getting along with others, trouble concentrating and trouble coping with stress.

Read more