LOCAL STUDENT/ATHLETE JILL MOORE SELECTED TO ATTEND

THE 2010 PARALYMPIC EXPERIENCE VANCOUVER

Honor Student Competes for NW Cabarrus High School and Abilities Unlimited

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Steve Goldberg

704-904-8849

scsmedia@earthlink.net

(CONCORD, NC) – U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, has announced that Jill Moore (Concord, NC), 16, is one of 13 student athletes with a physical disability selected to attend the 2010 Paralympic Experience Vancouver, March 10-17, 2010, during the Xth Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Moore, a junior at Northwest Cabarrus High School, is a multi-sport athlete and carries a 4.35 grade point average. A member of her high school track and field team, she’s the first wheelchair athlete in North Carolina to compete in regional and state finals and score points for her team.

She is also a member of the Carolina Cruisers track and field team and the Charlotte Rollin’ Bobcats Jr. wheelchair basketball team, both of which are part of Abilities Unlimited (aucarolinas.org). She was named National Junior Athlete of the Year by Sports ‘N Spokes magazine in 2008 and was an Academic All-American last year as the Rollin’ Bobcats won the NWBA JV national championship. Moore has also been named to theTeam USA swimming squad for the 2010 IWAS Junior World Championships in Olomouc, Czech Republic next August.

“My dream is to compete for the USA in the Paralympic Games,” says Moore, “so this is an incredible journey to go to Vancouver, meet all the Paralympians and get a taste of what this whole gathering of the best of the best is all about.”

The 2010 Paralympic Experience offers a very select group of 13 young student athletes with physical disabilities and a group of six coaches, program leaders and teachers to experience the Paralympic Winter Games firsthand. Participants have the opportunity to meet U.S. Paralympic Team members in addition to attending Opening Ceremonies and competition, gaining an insider’s perspective on the Games.

“Less than five-percent of kids with physical disabilities participate in physical fitness programs,” said Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics, USOC. “Paralympic Experience Vancouver provides us an opportunity to recognize those kids with physical disabilities and community organizations that promote physical fitness programs and health.”

Student athletes were selected based on their video or written essay focused on how sport has positively influenced their lives. Coaches, program leaders and teachers were chosen from applications submitted which include a one-page essay describing their work with students with physical disabilities.

For more information about U.S. Paralympics and its programs, please contact the U.S. Paralympics office at (719)866-2030 or visit our Web site at www.usparalympics.org.

About U.S. Paralympics:
U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the Paralympic sports movement and to promoting excellence in the lives of persons with physical disabilities. Visit the U.S. Paralympics Web site at www.usparalympics.org.

About Abilities Unlimited

Abilities Unlimited of the Carolinas, Inc. (www.aucarolinas.org), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Formed in June 2005 by three fathers of physically disabled children in the greater Charlotte, NC area, the mission of AUCarolinas is to create, develop and energize the human spirit for those individuals with physical disabilities through adaptive activities and enhancements in their able-bodied environment. AUCarolinas is the primary sponsor for programs for physically disabled youth that compete regionally and nationally in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair track & field, and swimming, along with other recreational sports and events. For more information, please contact AU at aucarolinas@gmail.com.

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