Rob is currently cycling across the U.S. in support of charities that
helped him recover from his IED, double leg amputation injury. His goal
for this trip is to raise no less than 1 million dollars. Be sure to
check out the Official Website for updates.
All raised funds will go to charities that aid veterans with challenges similar to his. Specifically, the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes (CSAH) the Semper Fi Fund, and Ride 2 Recovery
Please contact Alison Taylor with any questions you have.
Shirts will be delivered approximately 2 weeks after the close date.
Rob grew up on a farm in the small town of Lovettsville, Virginia. He
graduated from Loudoun Valley High School in 2003, and from Virginia
Tech in 2007. In his junior year at Virginia Tech, he joined the Marine
Corps Reserve as a combat engineer at Bravo Company, 4th Combat Engineer
Battalion in Roanoke, VA. In the Marine Corps, combat engineers are
responsible for a multitude of disciplines but the primary role that he
and his fellow combat engineers undertook was the use of explosives, and
the detection of buried IEDs and weapons caches.
He deployed to Habbaniyah, Iraq in 2008, and again to Delaram/Sangin,
Afghanistan in 2010. During his deployment to Afghanistan while
operating as a part of a push into Taliban territory, he was tasked with
clearing an area with a high likelihood of containing an IED. It was in
this capacity that he was wounded by the IED that he was looking for.
The injury resulted in a left through knee dis-articulation and a right
above knee amputation of his legs.
Rob was taken to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD
for the initial phases of his recovery, which consisted primarily of
healing and closing his wounds. He was then transferred to Walter Reed
Army Medical Center for the remainder of his rehabilitation. At Walter
Reed he was fitted with prosthetics, and worked very hard to learn how
to walk with two prosthetic knees. He also used the time to relearn how
to do other things with his new challenge including riding an upright
cycle, running, and rowing. He enjoyed rowing so much that he decided to
train and participate in the 2012 Paralympics. He and his rowing
partner Oksana represented the United States well and brought home the
bronze medal in their event.
Also During his recovery at Walter Reed, he was determined to relearn
how to ride an upright bicycle again. Despite many difficulties,
thanks to the innovation of his prosthesis Zach, and the help of Brian
Bartlett from Left Side Industries, and Ray Clark from Ride to Recovery,
he was able to get up and cycling in only six months. He was later
able to participate in the Nation's Triathlon in Washington, DC in
September of 2011. It was during this time of rediscovery that he came
up with the idea of cycling across America in order to benefit some of
the charities that had aided him during his recovery. He will be
starting in Maine on October 14, 2013, and cycling through the middle of
the country, then angling down to Southern California after reaching
Utah. His goal for this trip is to raise no less than 1 million dollars,
and subsequently give the proceeds to charities that aid veterans with
challenges similar to his. These charities include the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes (CSAH), the Semper Fi Fund, and Ride 2 Recovery.
In setting a goal to raise 1 million dollars, he hopes to show what
Americans can accomplish when they come together for a purpose.
Supporters
Navy Vet, 65-69, Love what you have done, don't think I could have done it. Thank You So Much Richie Heater
Rob is an inspiration in so many ways. I had hoped to ride with him, but was out of town on business. The least I can do is buy a t-shirt to support his great efforts. Great job Rob!
I just heard about you and your journey this morning on the Today Show. I wish I would have heard sooner as I definitely would have followed. You are an inspiration! Thank you for serving our Country!
I has the honor to finish Robs Journey on the ride from Dana Pointe to Camp Pendleton. I was injured just a month ago on a cycling accident where I broke my collar bone in two places. With Rob's inspiration for me, that's why I was excited to do this
OhRah Rob!, Semper Fi
Rob is an inspiration and has such a positive attitude! a hero in every sense of the word!
Rob is a badass