Five Blinded Veterans Kayak Grand Canyon's Colorado River

LEES FERRY, Ariz., Sept. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Team River Runner (TRR) and the Congressionally Chartered Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) joined together for a historic adventure on the Colorado River.  TRR will be guiding five blind veterans as they kayak 226 miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon 1-12 September. 

Under the umbrella of BVA's Operation Peer Support (OPS), a program for Gulf War veterans, four Army veterans and one navy veteran will spend two weeks kayaking some of the most difficult water rapids in the United States.  These veterans have spent two years training with experts from the non-profit Team River Runner (TRR) that promotes kayaking and team eater recreational programs for disabled veterans.  The veterans are part of the TRR Outtasight Vision Teams, specifically organized to train them.

The veteran guide team is led by Dave Robey, a retired Navy Officer and program director of TRR, and blinded Navy veteran Lonnie Bedwell from BVA.

Other members of the Blinded Veterans include Retired Army veterans Steve Baskis, Travis Fugate, Kathy Champion, and Brian Harris.  The trip concludes at Diamond Creek, near Flagstaff, Arizona.

SOURCE Blinded Veterans Association