On Sunday, Feb. 13 the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS) is holding its 23rd Herb Bradley Coca-Cola Classic (HBCCC) Fundraiser on Mount Washington.

In partnership with Coca-Cola, Mount Washington Alpine Resort, CHEK News and Thrifty Foods, the HBCCC is VISAS鈥檚 major fundraiser for the year. This event makes it possible for VISAS to provide annual ski and snowboarding instruction to over 350 individuals with physical or mental disabilities.

The Herb Bradley Coca-Cola Classic is a day filled with fun, skiing and snowboarding. Up to 50 teams of four participate in an easy dual slalom race, and compete against their own best time guessestimate. Teams consist of three able-bodied skiers or snowboarders, and one person from the VISAS program. The entrance fee is $300 per team and includes a Mount Washington ski pass for each participant, lunch and lots of door prizes.

鈥淧roceeds from the Herb Bradley Coca-Cola Classic go towards VISAS鈥檚 snowsports program, the popular Learn to Ski Festival held every January, and the Veteran Festival,鈥� said Ski Festival organizer Bob Hodgson.

鈥淲e had 37 enthusiastic new skiers and snowboarders from all over the Island and mainland this past week. We would not be able to host such an event without our 75-plus volunteer snowsports instructors and festival helpers, and without the generous support from the community at the Herb Bradley Coca-Cola Classic,鈥� added Hodgson.

Next month VISAS will also host the fourth Veteran Festival, a week-long ski program held for disabled members of the Canadian Forces. 鈥淭his year we have 12 Canadian vets and four vets from Australia attending,鈥� said Glen Hooge, Veteran鈥檚 Festival Chair.

Entry forms for the HBCCC Fundraiser are available at www.visasweb.ca. For donations, door prizes or questions regarding the event contact Ken Kemper at 250-890-0776 or e-mail ken.kemper@shaw.ca.