BLOOMFIELD MAN SELECTED FOR TEAM EVEREST ’03
Unique Team Heading to Mount Everest in 2003
AUSTIN, TEXAS May 22, 2002
Team Everest ’03 announced today that Bloomfield resident
Dana Roach, an EMT for Green County Ambulance Service, has been
chosen to be part of Team Everest ’03 expedition. “This
is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Roach, 37. “I’m
honored to be a part of this exciting expedition.”
Team Everest ‘03 spotlights the potential of people with
disabilities and is led by Texas mountaineer Gary Guller, a climber
with only one arm. The event is promoting 50 years of progress in
improving the lives of those with disabilities while paralleling
the 50th anniversary of the first summit of Everest. Guller will
lead this unique team of individuals and supporters on the three-week
Challenge Trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp at 17,300 ft. before himself
attempting the 29,035 ft. summit.
Roach joins eight other members of the Spring 2003 Challenge Trek
Team who have been selected thus far including persons with quadriplegia,
deafness and visual impairment, as well as a leg amputee, a two-time
cancer survivor and a disabled veteran with leg paralysis. “Team
Everest ’03 has a powerful message; it models how society
can open the door of opportunity to all people, regardless of their
ability or disability,” says expedition leader Guller.
The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD) kicked off this
dramatic 18-month campaign in February and has recruited an Advisory
Board including former Texas Governor Ann Richards, Heisman Trophy
Winner and NFL Legend Earl Campbell and an assortment of distinguished
athletes with disabilities, business leaders and accomplished Everest
mountaineers.
Only a short month after the public introduction of Team Everest’03,
the event received notice in a leading national news magazine and
the world’s largest mountaineering publication. Both Time
Magazine and EverestNews.com highlighted Guller and the Team Everest
‘03 expedition in March issues.
"Such early and prominent national exposure is usually an
indicator of ongoing and increasing media coverage. Team Everest
'03 is the type of human interest story that attracts a following
of readers, a situation highly desired by all news organizations,"
said Dr. Max McCombs, an internationally renowned media expert and
professor at the University of Texas School of Journalism.
“We are actively seeking sponsors for this exciting event.
Those who are interested in participating in this type of positive,
national media should contact CTD,” says Dennis Borel, executive
director of the CTD. “We are continuing to accept applications
from people with and without disabilities for the Challenge Trek.
We’d like to see other folks around the country join Roach
in being a part of Team Everest ’03.”
For more information about the Team Everest ’03 Challenge
Trek, the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities or Gary Guller,
please contact Dennis Borel at (512) 478-3366.
Press Contact:
Dennis Borel
Project Director
(512) 478-3366
info@teameverest03.org
www.teameverest03.org
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