"We set out almost a year ago with the idea of a handcycle ride from Massachusetts to Atlanta. There aren’t many playbooks on how to do that, but the same can be said about SCI at times. I can’t sum up the experience — there are too many things to say about each part. What happened during the rides through backroads was far different than the trips through major cities, and isn’t comparable to the days along farmlands and small towns. All I know is that I saw people and places with very different personalities and ways of life. There were places I could ride through every day while never wanting to leave and other places that I was glad to finally get out of. We met many amazing people that I never would have imagined meeting had I not rolled through their neighborhood or business. I feel like I saw enough to know how much this country differs in more ways than one. 

 

I’m thankful to have had the support and dedication of my family. Moving from city to city every day was more work than we all predicted. Thank you to the Shepherd Center for welcoming me back after ten years. It feels great to support an organization that does so much for people who travel from all over the world to receive care. Thank you to High Fives Foundation who help make big ideas come true for adaptive athletes. Thanks to our sponsors Boston Red Sox, Numotion Foundation, Nordson Corporation, and Enterprise Bank who helped jumpstart our campaign. Thank you to everyone who contributed, reached out, and shared our mission over the past four weeks. We exceeded our goal and can’t wait to show everybody what it will be used for. 

 

I’m grateful to have been able to do this. I’m grateful to have the support I do. You spend a lot of time thinking while spending 100+ hours on a bike, and I’m glad we could all make an impact on individuals who need it."