Jimmie Heuga

On the Board of Advisors of Solstice Films

In 1984 Jimmie Heuga took his deeply held belief that a person can have a chronic condition and their health and created The Heuga Center. His vision was to teach people with multiple sclerosis how to live healthy, active, fulfilling lives despite the constraints of their condition.

Jimmie's drive to make the most of his abilities came early. At the age of 15, he was the youngest male skier ever to make the U.S. Olympic training squad. In 1964, Heuga, along with teammate Billy Kidd, won the bronze and silver medals at the Innsbruck, Austria Olympics, becoming the first American men to win an Olympic medal in alpine skiing. In 1967, he finished third in point standings in World Cup giant slalom and is still the only American to win the prestigious Arlberg-Kandahar race in Garmisch, Germany.

While participating in the 1968 Olympics, Heuga began to face his toughest competition, multiple sclerosis. He began experiencing blurred vision, temporary numbness in his limbs and stiffness in his muscles. Two years later doctors officially confirmed the diagnosis of MS, and advised Heuga to avoid exercise and exertion that could cause his symptoms to worsen. He was only 26.

After six sedentary years that left him feeling unhealthy and unmotivated, Heuga's athletic instincts took over and, defying medical advice, he returned to a regular program of exercise, nutrition, and psychological motivation. Inspired by his success, he created The Heuga Center in 1984 in order to empower other people with MS to make the most of their abilities.

In its 17-year history, The Heuga Center has helped over 6,000 people through its CAN DO Program, a five-day medical/wellness workshop for people with MS and their significant others. The Center has also funded research proving the effectiveness of exercise in improving the quality of life for people with MS.

Jimmie served as the President of his namesake nonprofit for 15 years. In that time he established Jimmie Heuga's Snow Express for MS, a series of fundraising ski races at resorts across the country that provides financial support for the Center. Jimmie also helped to guide the Center's groundbreaking research and the evolution of its medical/wellness programs.

In 1999 Jimmie stepped out of the day-to-day operations of The Heuga Center due to the progression of his MS, but continues to provide leadership for the organization as its spokesperson and founder. He maintains a regular program of physical fitness, and in recent years has begun skiing again through the use of a bi-ski. Jimmie also manages a busy calendar of public appearances, and has received numerous awards honoring his pioneering approach to living life to its fullest despite having a chronic condition.

For more information on this producer's works, see our website at http://www.aquariusproductions.com/