Archive for April, 2010

Currently Resides: Key West, FL; moving to Southern Pines, NC when he retires
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
Birthplace: Fort Rucker, Alabama
Currently Stationed: Key West, FL 2008-2010 (Cutter Key Biscayne)
Formerly Stationed: Seattle, WA 2006-2008 (Cutter Polar Sea, Antarctic operations)

“Motivate your mind and the body will follow.” – David Moulton

David Moulton served his country in the U.S. Marines from 1995 to 1999, and in the U.S. Coast Guard from 2000 to 2010. 

He will be medically retired this year, as a result of severe injuries to his right arm and shoulder incurred on a Coast Guard search-and-rescue mission.  The outcome was a total shoulder replacement and prosthetic right arm bone. 

David is very excited about State Farm’s Sea to Shining Sea ride.  A life-long athlete with a house full of sporting gear, he worried that after his injury he could not longer participate in sports.   He became depressed and angry when he re-injured his shoulder after a fall at home and ended up in the hospital. 

Then, David was introduced to the recumbent trike and a new world opened up for him:  “I realized that there was something I could do and that is cycling.”   In fact, one reason he is determined to ride Sea to Shining Sea is to prove that ability to someone who said he couldn’t physically complete the ride because he is disabled.

During his career, he has seen the world, but spent many years away on deployment.  “I missed family funerals, weddings, my daughter’s birthdays, graduations.  I want to see my country, the country I have made these sacrifices for and missed so much for.

David planned to participate in the full Sea to Shining Sea ride, but due to a recent development, he’ll be joining the rest of this team in late June/early July.

Currently Resides: Alexandria, Virginia
Hometown: Campbell, California
Birthplace: Los Gatos, California, United States
Formerly Stationed: Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah, Beale AFB in Northern California

 ”My injuries have slowed me down, but they cannot stop me.”

 – Christopher Frost

Christopher Frost joined the military in 1996 and currently serves as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team Leader for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Frost will bike with the Sea to Shining Sea team and represent his fellow EOD operators.

In 2008, Frost served as the Team Leader for Weapons Intelligence Team One (WIT) in Iraq, where his team provided battlefield forensic evidence collection, post-blast analysis and counter-IED intelligence.  On May of 2008, Christopher was responding to an IED attack when his vehicle rolled across a pressure initiated IED.  It detonated beneath his vehicle and the resulting explosion led to a death and serious injuries, within the vehicle.  Christopher’s right leg had to be amputated below the knee and many surgeries and rehab at Walter Reed Army Medical Center followed. The Pentagon awarded Christopher the Warrior of the Week award in 2008.

Since Christopher’s doctors have yet to clear him to resume running, he began cycling. “My injuries have slowed me down, but they cannot stop me,” Chris says. I joined the Sea to Shining Sea team in honor of all of the EOD operators who have been killed or wounded in combat, I think about them everyday.”

Christopher is most excited about seeing the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies during the summer trip. He will also be joined by many family and friends along the way.

While recovering at Walter Reed, Christopher met his fiancée, Catherine Neary, who was receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer. Christopher and Catherine are preparing for their wedding on August 21, 2010. The couple currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

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Currently Resides: Maple Hill, NC
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA
Formerly Stationed: New Orleans and overseas

“So many of our DREAMS at first seem Impossible, then they seem Improbable, and then when we Summon the Will, they soon become Inevitable.”  - Eric Frazier

Eric Frazier said he “felt a calling” to enlist when he watched from his dorm room the events of September 11th.   A few months later Eric joined the United States Marine Corp and was soon deployed.  Eric returned from his tour in 2005 healthy and able-bodied, only to suffer a spinal cord injury that confined him to a wheelchair.

As an athlete prior to his injury, it is no surprise Eric considers sports rehabilitation the perfect medicine.  Within a year of becoming T12 paraplegic, Eric completed his first long distance cycling event as a Member of World T. E.A.M Sports, riding 175 miles from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.   Soon after, Eric was asked to join Team Semper Fi, a sports program funded by the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.   The idea for the Team came from other wounded Marines and Sailors who refused to let their challenges prevent them from competing in athletic events. Together their athletic drive and unwavering spirit on the road to recovery is an inspirational to all who meet them.

Eric is married to Shenette Frazier who is a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps and they have daughter, Amiya.  Currently living in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Eric finds himself going to Camp Lejenue to locate Marines who may need a hand after suffering an injury.  Eric is passionate about giving back to the organizations that have made it possible for him to achieve so many his goals. 

Eric is a competitive athlete in the sports of HandCycling, Triathlon, and Wheelchair Basketball.  Most recently, Eric learned to ski and earned a spot on the U.S. Biathlon Development Team.   Biathlon combines elements of cross country skiing and sharp shooting.  Athletes ski three 2.5 km loops (7.5 km total), stopping after the first two loops to shoot at five targets (10 targets total).  One minute is added to the athlete’s finishing time for each miss.   In six short weeks, Eric qualified to compete in U.S. Cross Country Ski Nationals, and in two World Cup Games held in France and Germany!  Eric narrowly missed a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Team by four percent but attended the Vancouver Games to gather reconnaissance for his future goals.  In the short term, Eric is committed to making the U.S. National Biathlon Team within the coming year and has his long term sight set firmly on Paralympic gold in Sochi Russia in 2014.

Currently, Eric is preparing for the start of the next Biathlon season by participating in the “Sea to Shining Sea” 63 Day Cross-Country Bike Ride.   Eric is dedicating this ride to a now-deceased childhood friend, Regis Williams, from Pittsburgh PA, and is looking forward to the stage of the ride that takes him through Pittsburgh so he will be able to meet up with family and friends.

For Eric this ride will be the start of his journey toward Paralympic gold, as well as the latest, epic accomplished, in an already otherwise, epic life.  

Accomplishments

• World Cup Games – U.S. Biathlon Team, Oberried, German – February 2010
• World Cup Games – U.S. Biathlon Team, Bessans, France – January, 2010      
• ConocoPhilips U.S. Cross Country Ski Nationals – U.S Nordic Team, Anchorage, AK – January 2010
• Face of America, 125 Mile Bike Ride – Washington DC, 2006 – 2009
• Run for the Warriors, Jacksonville NC, 2008-2009
• Wheelchair Basketball Port City Tournament – September 2009
• Wheelchair Basketball Nationals – March 2009
• Wheelchair Basketball Conference Championship – February 2009
• Wheelchair Basketball Richmond Tournament – December 2009
• Wheelchair Basketball S. Charleston Tournament – November 2009
• Wheelchair Basketball, Wilmington Tournament – October 2009
• The Admiral’s Cup Triathlon, Point Mugu, CA 2008
• Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, San Francisco, CA – 2008
• Marine Corp Marathon, Washington DC, 2006- 2008
• The Nations Triathlon, Washington DC, 2008
• Real Deal Inclusive Adventure Challenge, Vail, CO, 2008
• Cooper Bridge Run, Charleston, SC – 2007
• Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Marathon, Virginia Beach VA – 2006 

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Currently Resides:  Enterprise, AL
Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Birthplace:  Fort Lauderdale, FL
Formerly Stationed: Ft Rucker, AL, home of Army Aviation

“I am so grateful to be alive and able to do what I can. Life is short, so don’t hesitate.” – Stuart Contant

Retired Army pilot Stuart Contant is a bit nervous about whether he will be able to finish the Sea to Shining Sea ride because, he says, “I’m not an athlete.”  But, since surviving a near-fatal plane crash in Afghanistan in 2002, his approach to life is to take advantage of every opportunity.

That’s why he’s riding and also why he is planning to send out a note about the ride to all of his Facebook friends, hoping to see them along the route.

Stuart joined the Army in 1984, and became a Warrant Officer in 1992.  He flew the UH-! Huey, then the OH-58 Kiowa and, later, the AH-64 Apache.  In addition to flying, he served as Aviation Safety Officer and an Instructor,

Stuart deployed to Afghanistan with Charlie Company, 101^st Aviation Battalion for Operation Enduring Freedom and in April 2002, barely survived an horrific crash that damaged his head and spinal cord.

After years of painful treatment, he took medical retirement in September 2009, and spends his time enjoying bike rides, camping and other activities with his wife, Jacque and his daughters, three-year-old Vivian and two-year-old Violet.

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Currently Resides: Seattle, Washington
Birthplace: Lodi, California
Formerly Stationed: Bodega Bay, CA; Alameda, CA; now Seattle (US Coast Guard -Active duty)

 “I think of my daughter when I take on great challenges. I want to show her that she can do anything if she believes it’s possible.” – Coree Pelko

Coree Pelko in on active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard, although she continues to suffer from tendonitis as a result of injuries sustained early in her Coast Guard career.

A single mom with a 4½-year-old daughter, Coree has become an avid cyclist over the past few years.  She rides her bike to work each day, delivering her daughter to daycare along the way.  She even goes to the grocery store by bicycle.

Her divorce started her thinking about all the things in life she wanted to do before she died.  Riding her bike across the country was one of them, so she was excited when she learned about the Sea to Shining Sea ride.

At first, she didn’t think she would be able to participate, but “things have a way of working out” and she received time off from work and has been able to make the necessary childcare arrangements to allow her to tackle the challenge.

She is looking forward to the first day of the ride because it will be near where Coree was first stationed in Bodega Bay, and she is hoping friends from the station will come out to see her.  A friend from boot camp will meet up with her in Denver.  Coree is most excited that her first chief at Bodega Bay, someone who inspired her during her early USCG days and who also introduced her to cycling, will be coming out to ride with her when the tour reaches Washington DC.

“I have longed to see our countryside for many years and so being able to check that off my list is a huge reward,” says Coree.  “I’m also looking forward to making friends that will last a lifetime. I would love nothing more than to dedicate my ride to David Moulton. I look forward to David joining me later on the road.” 

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Currently Resides: Salt Lake City, UT
Birthplace: Fair Oaks, CA
Served as: Army Reserves              

“Why not ride my bike across the country? What a cool adventure” – Chad Jukes

Chad Jukes likes a challenge – whether serving in Iraq, rock climbing or riding in Sea to Shining Sea – there isn’t any mountain he isn’t prepared to climb.

That’s especially inspiring because Chad lost a leg to injuries he sustained when his truck hit an anti-tank mine during Convoy Security operation in Northern Iraq in December 2006.

The explosion shattered his femur and heel bone.  For three months, he endured surgery after surgery and endless physical therapy.  Then, an MRSA, a highly-resistant staff infection set in.   Doctors recommended amputation below the knee.   

An avid sport climber since age 12, Chad resisted amputation at first.  But after talking to some amputee climbers, he realized he could continue to pursue his passion.

Within two months of the amputation, outfitted with a new prosthetic, Chad was back to climbing.   He gradually became more and more active, and now is climbing more than he had been prior to his injury.  He has started climbing ice, as well as rock, and in early May went to Alaska to climb three alpine ice routes with a partner who is also an amputee.

Chad loves everything about adventure and sees State Farm’s Sea to Shining Sea as the natural next step. Chad is especially excited about seeing the western U.S. from a bike, particularly Lake Tahoe and the Rocky Mountains.

Chad’s family and friends will be joining him all along the way. They’ll cheer him on as he rides through Napa Valley, Sacramento, Carson City and Lake Tahoe.

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Currently Resides: Little Rock, AR
Birthplace: Summit, NJ Hometown- Bloomsbury, NJ
Formerly Stationed: USAF

 “I’m dedicating my ride to all of the other patients at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center. A lot of those guys have much more to overcome than I do, but they still keep a positive attitude.” – Brian Petras

Brian Petras is a C-130E/H Flight Engineer with the 50^th Airlift Squadron based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Determined to regain his flying status following severe physical injury, Brian decided to join the Sea to Shining Sea team to accelerate his rehabilitation process.

In the summer of 2009, Petras returned from Iraq with a cancerous tumor in his right foot, which resulted in an amputation of his lower leg. Following his three months of chemotherapy, Petras grew close with his fellow patients at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center. In return for the motivation they provided to him during his rehabilitation period, Petras will bike with the Sea to Shining Sea team on their behalf.

Brian is most excited to travel through Colorado, where the S2SS team will climb over 3,000 feet and 100 miles in five days, simply “because it should be the most challenging part of the trip.” It is this same ambition and drive that gave way to the completion of the Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge, a six day trip in which the biking rookie covered 350 miles.

As yet another motivational milestone in his optimistic journey of rehabilitation, Brian is excited to join the Sea to Shining Sea team for the full duration of the ride. Brian’s friends and family will meet him in DC and Virginia, and he will actively update his social media presence on a weekly basis, in order to inspire others along the way.

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Currently Resides: Austin, Texas
Birthplace: Makahalau, Hawaii          
Formerly Stationed: NAS Kingsville, Texas

“This ride takes the focus off of what we can’t do and shifts it to what we can. I am looking forward to pushing the limits, just because I was injured it doesn’t mean that I have to sit at home while life happens.” – Nicolette Maroulis

It has been seven years since Nicolette Maroulis was injured while serving as a K9 Handler in the Navy.  The Master at Arms second class spent 3-1/2 years in a wheel chair, not knowing if she would ever be able to walk again, but determined to try.

With the support of her husband, she pushed herself physically and mentally through multiple rounds of surgery and intensive physical therapy gradually relearning how to walk. She continues her rehabilitation at Tillman Physical Therapy and Cross fit Cedar Park.

It was with that same intensity that Nicolette tried hand cycling for the first time earlier this year and immediately fell in love with it.  “I find tremendous freedom in cycling,” she says. She thinks that pushing her limits is the best form of physical therapy and World T.e.a.m. sports is providing that for her.  

With only two months notice Nicolette committed to the cross-country ride. She received her first hand cycle just weeks ago and with the help of Mellow Johnny’s has been training passionately ever since.

During her recovery, Nicolette began to study kinesiology in hopes of understanding what was happening to her own body.  With fascination, she observed how physical therapy transformed atrophied muscles and helped her surpass the goals others had for her recovery.  Nicolette is now pursuing a degree in Sports and Health Sciences and plans to use her degree to help other injured veterans in their recovery.

Being new to cycling, Nicolette wasn’t sure she was ready for a cross country event but decided to give it a try–Not just for herself, but hopefully to show other injured soldiers how beneficial getting outside your comfort zone can be for your recovery.

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Currently Resides: Alexandria, VA
Birthplace: Pomona, CA
Hometown: Oceanside, CA 
Formerly Stationed: Walter Reed

“I knew that there could be no higher calling then to serve my country”  – Andrew Hartzell

Andrew Hartzell credits a bicycle with making it possible for him to walk again without needing a cane.  That’s one reason he is eager to participate in the Sea to Shining Sea ride.

Andrew was attending graduate school in California in 2006, but felt that he wanted to do something “more noble” with his life.  He chose to join the United States Army to serve his country.  But, soon after joining, he was injured in a training accident that shattered his right femur.

Andrew spent nearly three years at Walter Reed Medical Center, undergoing surgeries and physical therapy to enable him to use his damaged leg.   One of the “therapies” that has helped in his recovery has been cycling.

He didn’t know, at first, if he would be able to ride at all since standing for more than a few minutes was difficult for him and he needed the support of a cane to walk. 

Cycling helped develop the muscles in his leg, allowing him greater mobility as well as greatly reducing the constant pain in his knee.  He is committed to continuing to cycle for years to come because it enables him to walk with relatively little pain.

After Andrew finishes the ride in late July, he’ll approach another exciting life experience. Andrew is getting married on August 21, 2010 – just four weeks after the ride ends.

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Currently Resides:  Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hometown: Stugis, MI
Birthplace: Coldwater MI
Formerly Stationed: Fort Stewart, GA

“Sea To Shining Sea is a once in a lifetime opportunity” – Seth Arseneau

Seth Arseneau first became interested in hand cyclng after he suffered a spinal cord injury to his L1 vertebrae in a motor vehicle accident in 2001.  He had just completed his enlisted in United States Army (1998-2001).

Since that time, he has developed a passion for hand cycling.  He has traveled all over the U.S. and Europe, competing in numerous cycling events, including the Paralympics.   Although Seth has competed at numerous venues, he has always felt that cycling isn’t a sport or competition.  It is something more personal.

He says, however, “there is no doubt in my mind that everything I’ve done will pale in comparison to the Sea To Shining Sea– both in the challenge and in the reward.”

Over the years, Seth’s interest in hand cycling has expanded beyond riding and racing.  He is in the process of starting a small manufacturing/fabrication business that will build off-road hand cycles.

For now, though, he is focused on the ride.  Seth expects crossing the desert to be the highlight of the journey.  “I’ve always been partial to the desert’s unforgiving, yet beautiful, desolation.   After the desert, he is also looking forward to meeting up with family and friends, including a former Army friend in Colorado Springs.

Seth considers the opportunity to participate in the Sea To Shining Sea to be a great honor.  He would like to thank all those that have made sacrifices and contributions in order to make this ride happen.  It is with a sense of respect and reverence that he has been preparing his mind and body… always keeping in mind the efforts made by the organizers and the other veterans that are unable to be here with us.  And, he says, someone very dear to him will be waiting at the finish. He is dedicating his ride to that friend, whom he says will “lead me through the journey.”

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“All I ever wanted to do was serve my country and my community.  Despite my injuries and everything that has happened, I would do it all over again.” 

      – Clay Rankin

Clayton Rankin, who served in both Gulf Wars, returned home from Iraq in 2004 with a Bronze Star for Valor… and with severe back and brain injuries as well as PTSD.

He will participate in Sea to Shining Sea using a special bike that lets him lie flat, relieving the pressure on his back so he can pedal.

Despite his own injuries – or perhaps, because of them – Clay serves as an Advocate for the Army Wounded Warrior program (AW2).   Advocate. As an AW2 Advocate, he provides personalized support to severely wounded, injured, and ill soldiers and their families.  

Clay, who has been married for 25 years and has three children, is well aware of the many hurdles these injured soldiers and their families will face and knows how to help them get what they need.

Clay joined the U.S. Army in 1979 as a military police officer.  After his tour ended, he volunteered with the Colorado National Guard.  He was deployed with the 220th Military Police Company to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in1990 for the first Gulf War.  He was deployed again, in 2003, to Iraq where he was injured – twice.

Clay had always been active and athletic but his injuries prevented him from most activities.  With the support of his wife and his doctor, he is eager to participate in Sea to Shining Sea ride.  He sees it as an opportunity to shed light on the struggles of injured veterans and to help them and others to understand that there is life after the injury. 

He is also eager to challenge his limits and to experience the camaraderie.   With so many brothers and sisters in arms to pick him up if he should fall, he is confident this event will be one of the most worthwhile events of his life.

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Currently Resides: Cary, NC
Hometown: Hampstead, NH
Birthplace: Newton, MA
Served: US Air Force, 2001-2007 (Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring and Horn of Africa)

“Not all injuries are visible…a lot of veterans (diagnosed and undiagnosed) are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and PTSD.”  – Kevin Sullivan

Kevin Sullivan was working in Finance in Boston in 2000 when he had a life-changing experience.  During a Tall Ships exhibition, he saw a soldier from another nation salute an American solider.  He was so moved that he left the corporate world and joined the U.S. Air Force.

He made a similar leap of faith when he signed on to ride in Sea to Shining Sea.   “I had been quietly living with anxiety/PTSD for years.  I haven’t discussed it with anyone, except my wife and parents. The truth is that I felt ashamed for being diagnosed with a disorder and guilty for not being able to continue my military career. “

Kevin decided to tell his story.  “War brings on a whole set of unseen injuries that are not talked about.   Seeking mental health assistance in the military is viewed as a weakness and the stigma is hard to shake.”    He wants to draw attention to the fact that not all war wounds are visible, and that mental health is a real casualty of war.

Before his medical release in 2007, Kevin had an outstanding military record.  He flew more than 400 combat sorties in Iraq, Afghanistan and Horn of Africa, earning several Medals.  But, in time, he became increasingly short tempered and jumpy.  In his eyes, every Iraqi was the enemy; every parked truck hid someone with a gun.  During a mission, Kevin suffered a severe panic attack that he was rendered unconscious.  The diagnoses:  severe PTSD.

Today, thanks to the help of his family and the Air Force/VA medical staff, he feels he has the tools to manage his symptoms.   He is studying to become a Physician Assistant, inspired by the aero-medical evacuation flight teams he knew in Iraq.  An avid athlete, Kevin is a member of a rowing team, competes in Brazilian Jui Jitsui, and trains in boxing, kick boxing, and mixed martial arts.

An active member of the VFW and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Kevin wants to make a difference for wounded veterans.  “I consider myself lucky to have my life and limbs.”

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Currently Resides:  San Antonio, TX    
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Formerly Stationed: USAF; Tucson, AZ

“The most rewarding part of this trip will be the time when I can think and enjoy the beauty of this country.”– Scott Bilyeu

It has been six years since U.S. Air Force Pararescueman Scott Bilyeu was injured in Afghanistan.  After a severe helicopter crash in 2004, Scott spent years recovering from brain trauma and multiple broken bones; however, he has since rehabilitated himself to a place where he can now bike the entire cross-country trip with Sea to Shining Sea this summer.

Though Scott still suffers from an inability to multi-task, he will leverage his strong will and determination to complete the 4,000 mile bike ride with the same physical strength he once had in the USAF.

With the everlasting encouragement of his wife and child as motivation for the Sea to Shining Sea expedition, Scott is most excited about “showing his son and family that despite the setbacks he has endured, he is still able to meet the demands of extreme challenges.”  Having the ability to explore the country means so much to him, while also making new friends with inspiring people along the way.

In addition to meeting new people, Scott is looking forward to biking through the more scenic spots such as Moab, where he’ll hike, rock climb and “enjoy the beauty of this country.” Along the way, he’ll also say hello to his friends and family in San Francisco, Iowa and D.C., while keeping his hundreds of followers on Facebook looped in to his exhilarating journey.

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Currently Resides:   Cameron, NC
Hometown:   Boardman, OH (near Youngstown)
Birthplace: Youngstown, Ohio
Formerly Stationed: Lackland AFB TX, Hurlburt Field AFB FL, Kadena AFB Okinawa Japan, Pope AFB NC

“Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always, even death itself” The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for?”- William J. Bennett, in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy, November 24, 1997 

Sergeant Marc Esposito loves his job as a Combat Controller in Air Force Special Operations.  Even though he barely survived an IED attack in a mountain pass in Afghanistan, he says he can’t wait to recover fully so he can “get back and give back.”

Actually, Marc isn’t waiting until then to give back.  He has joined the Sea to Shining Sea ride because he wants to raise awareness for the Special Operations Warriors Foundation for wounded veterans.

Marc’s own recovery has amazed every one on the medical team that treated him. The injuries he suffered when he was thrown from his vehicle were extensive:  he was on fire and unconscious when a Special Forces medic reached him.  He credits the quick, professional actions of that medic for enabling him not only to survive, but also to keep his legs.

According to the surgeons who treated Marc, his excellent physical fitness contributed to his ability to survive.  So it’s not surprising that Marc is pursuing a high fitness standard during his recovery.  

He says he is most looking forward to the challenge of the rough terrain he will encounter on the ride.  Marc is also looking forward to visiting with family and friends along the route.  He has invited his sister, who lives in Centerville Ohio, to join him on the Cambridge-Steubenville-Pittsburgh portion of the ride. 

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Currently Resides: West Bath, ME
Birthplace: Plainfield, NJ

“I am dedicating this ride to the service men and women and their families who have sacrificed so much. I am also participating in this ride for my young son Collin. He has seen me lose the use of my legs, yet I want him to know that your dreams are always possible no matter the challenges along the way.”– Rory McCarthy

Rory McCarthy has always had a passion for sports. When, as a teen, he could no longer walk without crutches due to muscular atrophy, he assumed he would be relegated to the sidelines. However, his discovery of hand-cycling in 1980 gave Rory the means to pursue his athletic goals as well as generate awareness and opportunity for all athletes, regardless of physical differences. Since 1995, Rory has been a familiar face on World TEAM Sports (WTS) rides, covering more than 18 countries and helping unite athletes of varying nationalities and abilities.

As Rory’s muscular atrophy progressed, he switched from crutches to a wheelchair in March of 2007.  He had already been a team member of four WTS Face of America rides and Rory’s own new reality—wheelchair-bound for daily mobility—did not prevent him from continuing to participate.

Rory is co-founder of the non-profit organization Move With Freedom.  Combining his engineering background with his first-hand knowledge of the mobility obstacles facing the disabled, Rory designs adaptive equipment that opens up new possibilities and access for the user.

Rory’s wife, Katherine, and 10-year-old son, Collin, will join him along the way and cheer him on!

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