MT. EVEREST TEAM AWARDED BARBARA JORDAN AWARD
Governor's Office Salutes Unique Disability Team
Contact:
Dennis Borel, Project Director, 512-478-3366
Gary Guller, Expedition Leader, 512-407-8314
AUSTIN, TEXAS March 4, 2003
Today a diverse group of legislative, community, and disability
leaders will officially celebrate Team Everest '03 Day. The kickoff
of the day's events will begin at 10:00 am, as the Texas House of
Representatives will pass a proclamation authored by Rep. Elliot
Naishtat, proclaiming March 4, 2003 "Team Everest '03 Day".
Austin's five-star restaurant, Jean-Luc's Bistro, is hosting the
final Team Everest '03 Day event, a fundraising happy hour beginning
at 4:30pm. Members of this unique trekking team will be attending.
At 6:00pm, there will be short program announcing that the Coalition
of Texans with Disabilities has won the 2002 Barbara Jordan Media
Award for the Team Everest '03 expedition. Schedule permitting,
Governor Rick Perry will make the announcement.
"I applaud the members of Team Everest '03 for dreaming big
and pioneering new trails. You remind us that society should never
place limits on the ability of the human mind or the potential of
the human spirit," says Governor Perry, Honorary Host of Team
Everest '03 Day.
Other Team Everest '03 Day Hosts include: Kirk Watson, Admiral
Bobby Inman, Joe Bill Watkins, Phil and Nancy Cates, Earl Maxwell,
Tommy Jacks and Marty Cirkiel.
Background/Contact Info: Team Everest '03 spotlights the potential
of people with disabilities. 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 15-member team of individuals with
diverse disabilities (hearing impaired, visually impaired, quadriplegia,
paraplegia, amputation, etc.) on the three-week Challenge Trek to
the 17,500ft Mt. Everest Base Camp on March 15, 2003 before himself
attempting the 29,035ft summit. If successful, Guller would be the
first person with one arm to summit the world's tallest mountain.
"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 Guller. "Several of our Challenge
Trek members have severe disabilities and they will shatter the
stereotypes of what can be accomplished."
For more information about the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities,
Team Everest '03 or individual donations and corporate opportunities,please
contact Dennis Borel at (512) 478-3366 or Gary Guller at (512) 407-8314.
Also visit www.teameverest03.org.
Media Kit and Photos available
Team Everest Contact:
Gary Guller
Expedition Leader
(512) 407-8314
gguller@teameverest03.org
|
