World-renowned mountaineers join injured soldiers to overcome barriers
Soldiers to Summits, a program of No Barriers USA, and Mission: Mt. Whitney expedition sponsor Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) today announced its team of healing wounded veterans who will take on the highest summit in the contiguous United States this fall. The team of soldiers will be trained by two of America’s best-known mountaineers Charley Mace and Jeff Evans, who together will lead the team on the climb that launches September 1. This is the fifth such expedition sponsored by Soldiers to Summits, which has been a part of such high profile expeditions as the South Pole Allied Challenge (SPAC) with Britain’s Prince Harry, as well as climbs of Peru’s Mariposa 1, Ecuador’s Cotopaxi and Nepal’s Lobuche.Using mountains as both a metaphor and training ground, Soldiers to Summits helps veterans and service members overcome barriers, regardless of physical, mental or emotional challenges. Soldiers to Summits teaches participants to embrace a “No Barriers Mindset” through its expeditions and climbs, as well as its experiential offerings. Wells Fargo is joining forces with Soldiers to Summits as a part of its overall commitment to empower veterans to transition to a successful civilian life through its Military Affairs program. The just named Mission: Mt. Whitney team consists of five female and 11 male veterans, as well as five expedition leaders. Team members announced today come from four branches of the military and have various levels of post-injury ability from elite triathlete and future Para-Olympic hopeful to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors. Others are recovering from crushing injuries, bi-lateral knee reconstruction and amputation. The veterans hale from various locales in the country, have professional backgrounds as diverse as a massage therapist to an Ivy League research scientist; and are ages 27 – 57. They include:
- Vivian Snyder Oakland, CA, Army TBI, HNP with fusion in back and bilateral knee reconstruction
- Adele Loar Narragansett, RI, Air Force Loss of right eye and partial right shoulder, TBI, PTSD
- Xiaolian Tan Roslindale, MA, Army PTSD
- Brian McPherson Athens, OH, Marine Corp TBI, PTSD, bilateral shoulder injury and hearing loss
- Keith Knoop Lincoln, NE, Army Right leg injury, TBI
- Jeremy Graham Fairfield, WA, Marine Corps PTSD, TBI
- Harold “Jody” Brower Clayton, NC, Marine Corps Herniated disc, hearing loss, shattered ankle, memory/headache issues
- Jeff Palenske Chicago, IL, Army TBI, PTSD
- Andres Lazo Syracuse, NY, Army TBI, PTSD
- Stevi Gelinas Madison, NH, Army National Guard PTSD, degenerative disc disease
- Stuart “Bosun” Cooley Houston, TX, Navy Some loss of use of left hand and shoulder
- Craig Vogtsberger Littleton, CO, Army National Guard PTSD, TBI, SCI, DYS, LBP, PAR
- Steve Troop Pine Meadow, CT, Army Spinal stenosis, PTSD
- David Inbody College Station, TX, Army Foot amputation, Disc disease, PTSD
- Bob “Diggs” Brown Fort Collins, CO, Army PTSD
- Joan Hill Norfolk, VA, Navy, PTSD
Soldiers to Summits is a program of No Barriers USA, whose mission is to unleash the potential of the human spirit. Soldiers to Summits accomplishes this by building transformative experiences designed to help veterans overcome barriers and live a life of purpose. Their journey-based expeditions range from one day to three weeks in length, and have taken the organization to Nepal, Ecuador, Peru, the South Pole and locations around the U.S.
In 2012, Wells Fargo created a Military Affairs program to elevate its efforts in serving active duty military and veterans, and named a Military Affairs Program manager.
Dana Dussing Berry
Stone Ward for Soldiers to Summits
(501) 772-6141(cell)
dberry@stoneward.com
Lisa Westermann
Wells Fargo & Company
(415) 222-6236
(415) 845-7759 (cell)
lisa.b.westermann@wellsfargo.com
