PARALYMPIC SNOWBOARDER AMY PURDY’S ADAPTIVE ACTION
SPORTS RECEIVES THE ULTIMATE ‘LIFT’ FROM TOYOTA
THE PARTNERSHIP
ALLOWS FOR EXPANSION OF AAS PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT
WOUNDED VETERANS
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| Amy Purdy - Paralympic Games Sochi Russia 2014 |
TORRANCE, Calif. (May 22, 2014) – Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy’s
Adaptive Action Sports (AAS) will get a jump-start from Toyota, beginning
today. Toyota and AAS are expanding
their partnership, which will allow AAS to host 10 competitive para-snowboard
events for wounded veterans by the end of 2015.
“At Toyota, we believe in the
spirit of adventure, innovation and going places, and enjoy collaborating with
partners that feel the same way,” said Keith Dahl, corporate manager of engagement
marketing. “Adaptive Action Sports embodies a similar spirit and serves as a
great example of an organization that is helping others go places they haven’t
been before.”
AAS, based in Copper Mountain,
Colorado, and co-founded by U.S. Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy, allows disabled
children, young adults and wounded veterans to compete in action sports. Its
core principle is that action sports encourage individuality and creativity in
participants, while building independence and self-confidence.
Purdy has been a member of Team
Toyota, comprising 19 athletes, since 2012, and is herself a double-amputee who
began to snowboard seven months after receiving prosthetics at the age of 19.
She recently received much acclaim for winning a bronze medal at the 2014
Paralympic Games and for her second place finish on the
hit television show Dancing With the
Stars, capturing the heart of millions of Americans along the way.
“My impetus for starting AAS was to
give others the chance to see the path I followed to get here: from my hospital
bed, to the Paralympics medal podium, to
Dancing With the Stars,” said Purdy. “If someone who has been born with a
congenital abnormality, lost a leg, or suffered a brain injury succeeds at
snowboarding or skateboarding, they will believe that they have the ability to
conquer other challenges and truly be ready live beyond their limits. We
appreciate Toyota’s enthusiastic support in helping even more people go beyond
their limits, to really go places.”
To date, Toyota has provided AAS
with a mobility Sienna minivan that
the non-profit organization used to transfer athletes to and from its training
facility in Colorado. The expanded partnership will allow the organization to
continue this effort, while also growing its services to veterans.
