2013 Ski for Light participants at Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire
BELLAIRE -- Hundreds of people from all over the country and the world hit the slopes at Shanty Creek Resorts this week for the annual "Ski for Light International Week" event.
Ski for Light, Inc. is an all volunteer, non-profit organization that teaches blind, visually and mobility impaired adults how to cross country ski.
"I heard about the Ski for Light in Norway and that's why I came over here the first time in 2007," said Sven Modensen, a 7th year participant from Denmark, Scandinavia.
Each participant is paired for the week with an experienced sighted cross-country skier.
There were 256 people who participated and 8 countries that were represented at the week long event.
"It's just an amazing group of people, very intrepid, adventurous, open minded, warm," said Peter Slatin, a 16th year participant from New York.
The last time the event was held in Traverse City was in 2004.
Each year they choose a new location in the United States for the ski trip.
They say it's all in an effort to spread the Ski for Light philosophy, which is to encourage participants to recognize that they can accomplish more, both on the snow and back home in everyday life, than others may have told them was possible.
The event wraps up Sunday, Feb. 3.
Next year the Ski for Light group is heading to Anchorage, AK.
For more information about Ski for Light, Inc. and how you can get involved click HERE.
