Are you looking forward to cool weather - are you a winter person? Or are you someone looking forward to the beach? Either way, we've got you covered!

It's that time of year again! Time to gather up your friends and family and prepare to run into the lake at Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley in Stuarts Draft. Now, why would you do this? Well, first and foremost, it's A LOT of fun! It is refreshing and, moreover, it provides much needed financial support to Valley Associates for Independent Living (VAIL).

What is VAIL? VAIL is a non-profit organization that serves individuals with all types of disabilities in the communities of Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta, Lexington, Buena Vista, Rockbridge, Bath and Highland. VAILs mission is simple: To promote self-direction among people with disabilities and remove barriers to independence in the community.

What does this mean? Our Board President, Scott Pruett, shares that he began using a wheelchair over 23 years ago when he broke his neck in a skiing accident. "Disability can be very isolating. Sometimes this can be due to poor accessibility but very often it takes the form of emotional isolation. The crew at VAIL are committed to helping people live independently." In the words of a family member, "Utilizing local organizations like VAIL to be advocates for families like ours helps us better understand how to navigate. We've got a cadre of resources and programs that exist. Having experts in this field helps identify ongoing needs, unintended consequences, and helps us identify potential changes that might be needed in legislation."

The Arctic Dip is the largest - and coolest - fundraiser for VAIL each year. But that's only because of the generosity of people like you - people who are willing to Do the Dip, people who sponsor them, and the people who come and cheer for the dippers. We hope you'll choose to join us on this adventure - maybe for the first time, maybe for the ninth time!