The Short Version
Could you imagine getting the gift of a prosthetic leg and being able to climb to 19,347 feet? Or, waking up one day and experiencing the freedom of mobility for the first time in your life and not having to hop around on one leg?
In September, I will be climbing Cotopaxi with the Range of Motion Project (ROMP) to raise money and awareness for those who are in need of prosthetic care. Due to our sponsors, 100% of what we raise will be going directly to patient care.
Please consider giving up that coffee or a meal out to help give someone what many of us take for granted each and every day--the gift of mobility.
Want to Know More?
Adventure. Awareness. Giving back. For those of you who know me, you know how important all of these things are to me.
I was introduced to Range Of Motion Project (ROMP) through my board/volunteer work for Paradox Sports.
As many of you know, my twin brother, Dan, suffered a paralyzed arm and hand after a cycling accident and found a renewed sense of life and purpose through Paradox. It was through Paradox that Dan made incredible friends that also suffered from paralysis or were missing a limb--some of whom were also involved with ROMP.
While Paradox provides adaptive climbing experiences, ROMP provides patients with the prosthetic care they need to get mobile again.
I have seen first-hand how important this is after being the caregiver for my brother, who struggled with depression and loss of freedom and mobility after his accident.
Most of us take our mobility for granted, without thinking about how many amputees don't have access to or struggle to maintain healthy, active, productive and mobile lives. Prosthetic care was a distant thought for patients in the U.S. and in the developing countries of Ecuador and Guatemala before Range of Motion Project.
Our efforts through ROMP are changing lives and empowering individuals one prosthetic limb at a time.
2019 is the 5th annual global Climbing for ROMP event and I'm excited to have been chosen to be part of The Elite Team. The Elite Team includes both amputee and non-amputee athletes. We will embark on a 10-day expedition in the Ecuadorian Andes including: six days of hiking/climbing, a high altitude acclimation process including two volcanoes (Ruco Pichincha–15’638 ft and Rumiñahui–15’651 ft), and culminating with an attempt at the summit of Cotopaxi (19,347ft), the second tallest peak in Ecuador. These three peaks total 50,636 ft and will be three summits towards our goal of 50 summits with our global community in 2019.
The goal is to prove that amputees are not disabled by a missing limb, but a missing prosthesis and to help raise funds for ROMP patients in need. All money raised will go to this important cause.
ROMP’s mission is to provide high quality prosthetic care in underserved populations, which enhances mobility and unlocks human potential. We know that if you have access to the right technology, no summit is too far.
WE ARE CLIMBING VERTICAL FEET TO PROVIDE PROSTHETIC FEET TO OUR PATIENTS!
#WHATSYOURMOUNTAIN #CLIMBING4ROMP #WHYWECLIMB #MOBILITYFORALL
