Alpen Wine Festival for Can Do Multiple Sclerosis Sept 4 at Squaw
Posted on September 2, 2011
Filed Under North Tahoe Events
“Focus on what you CAN DO” – Jimmie Heuga.
Wine aficionados will sip fine vintages to help raise money for Can Do MS, formerly The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis, on Sunday, September 4, during the 23nd Annual Alpen Wine Festival hosted by The Village at Squaw.
For a $40 donation, guests can enjoy wine from more than 40 Northern California vineyards as soulful jazz will set the scene with live music from the Jackie Landrum Band and the Tristan Selzler Trio in The Village. Savory and unique vintages will be part of the wine tasting compliments of Belle Glos, Caymus, Conundrum, Dierberg, Dogwood, Heitz, Hatcher, Morgan Winery, ZD, Venge Vineyards, Sanglier, Long Shadows Vintners, and many other renowned regional vineyards. Donation also includes a commemorative crystal wine class.
Amidst the background of wine and music, guests can peruse the silent auction and raffle, which includes Squaw Valley lodging packages, shopping sprees, restaurant gift certificates, lift tickets, art and unique wines by the bottle and case.
Last year the Alpen Wine Festival raised more than $25,000 for Can Do MS. Fundraising events like Alpen Wine Festival allow Can Do MS to continue to bring lifestyle empowerment programs to northern Calif. for people living with MS.
Tickets for the event will be available on site at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 4, 2011. The majority of wines served at the event will be available for purchase at Uncorked at Squaw in the Village at Squaw Valley.
About Jimmie Heuga (www.heuga.org)
Jimmie Heuga grew up near Lake Tahoe and started skiing at the age of two. He began competing when he was five years old and, at 15, he was the youngest man ever named to the U.S. Ski Team.
In 1964 Heuga stunned the international skiing community when he took the bronze medal in slalom at the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Billy Kidd finished second, just a heartbeat ahead of Heuga and together they became the first American men to earn Olympic medals for Alpine skiing. In 1967, Heuga finished third in point standings in the World Cup giant slalom and was the first American to win the prestigious Arlberg-Kandahar race in Garmisch, Germany.
Heuga began noticing symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS) in the spring of 1967, experiencing vision problems and numbness in his extremities. After competing in the 1968 Olympics, he joined the professional racing circuit, still hindered by mysterious symptoms. In 1970, he finally received an official diagnosis of MS. He was only 26 and at the peak of his skiing career.
The conventional medical wisdom of the time advised people with MS to avoid any physical or emotional stress. This was difficult for an athlete of Heuga’s caliber and after six years and declining physical and emotional health, he rebelled. Developing his own program of exercise, nutrition and mental motivation, Heuga found not only his physical health, but also his outlook on life greatly improved. His approach revolutionized the management of MS.
Inspired by his success, Heuga founded The Heuga Center, in 1984, to share his philosophy with others and to help them focus on what they “can do”. For his inspiration and leadership in the field of MS, Heuga has received numerous honors from organizations including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Texaco Star Award, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, and the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
On Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 Heuga passed away peacefully. His spirit and compassion will live on through his family and foundation.
