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Amputees Across America 2003
By Meredy Fullen, Bios by Joseph Sapere  A group of guys who called themselves the "Three
J's" approached Ohio Willow Wood in late 2001 for sponsorship. They
had an ambitious mission in mind: riding bicycles across the United
States from Newport Beach, California, to Jamestown, Virginia. When
we read the sponsorship request and trip proposal, we did not
realize that all three of the riders were wearing OWW's Pathfinder"
foot. Only after speaking to the trip organizer did we make the
connection.
Many of you followed the ride by Internet last year, and people
turned out by the tens and sometimes hundreds to greet the Three
J's along the way. Through the generosity of HealthSouth
Rehabilitation Hospitals, AAA hosted formal visitations with
amputees and families.
Because of the success of last year's trip, Ret. Col. Joe Sapere
has planned for the mission to continue. He proposed a plan for the
2003 ride to Ohio Willow Wood--now a Gold Level Sponsor.
Although Joe will be the AAA 03 official organizer, webmaster,
support vehicle driver, and navigator, he will not be an official
"rider" this year. In order to share the experience and establish a
network of amputees who can serve as ATTITUDE Ambassadors, Joe and
the other 2002 riders, Jerry Suggs and John Keating, passed the
baton to three new riders: Jim DeLong, Mark Farrell, and Bruce
Hibbett.
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(From left), Joe Sapere, trip organizer; Mark Farrell; Bruce Hibbett; Jim DeLong. |
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Jim DeLong, 52, a left below-knee amputee, lost
his leg in a landmine explosion in Vietnam in 1971. Jim later
attended business school and, after working for the state of Ohio,
went into the building contracting business. Now retired, Jim and
his wife Trisha, who will join AAA '03 as a support driver, travel
extensively in their motor home. Jim is a passionate Harley
Davidson rider and enjoys horseback riding, hunting, and
backpacking. The father of three boys and granddad of six girls,
two boys, and one more on the way, Jim has not let his amputation
stop him from living life to its fullest. He recently underwent an
Ertl revision and was fitted with Alpha® Liners and the
Pathfinder.
Mark Farrell, a director in National Decision Systems, a
consulting company, has been a below-knee amputee since April 2001.
His right leg was crushed in an oilrig accident in 1976 during a
summer job while attending the University of New Mexico. Mark
graduated from Texas Tech University in 1984. He married, had two
children, and--determined not to consider himself disabled--began
bicycling and studying aikido.
In spite of 20 surgeries, increasing pain and functional
limitations caused him to choose amputation 25 years after the
accident. After his amputation, Mark took skiing and snowboarding
lessons and has been ice-skating and rollerblading. A user of Alpha
Liners and the Pathfinder foot since May 2002, he has recently
begun experimenting with running and plans to try skydiving and
paragliding.
A climbing accident in the Wyoming Grand Teton mountains in 2001
left Bruce Hibbett, 51, a left below-knee amputee. Bruce received a
masters degree in social work from the University of Missouri,
Columbia, in 1985 and works for the Missouri Division of Family
Services. He plans to obtain a physical therapist assistant (PTA)
degree and, by using this knowledge combined with his own
experiences, to help other amputees through rehabilitation. He
lives in Jefferson City with his wife Cheryl and daughter
Elizabeth. Bruce was fitted with a Pathfinder foot in June 2001 and
has used it while hiking, climbing, and canoeing.
The team kicked off their ride on May 31, 2003, in Seattle,
Washington, and plan to arrive in Jacksonville, Florida, July 25.
Judging by their personalities and having already witnessed several
of their shenanigans, this trip is likely to be lively. Check their
travel dates and route of over 4,400 miles on www.amputeesacrossamerica.com. If you are
interested in being a host facility for a visitation of AAA '03 for
your patients, please call Meredy Fullen at 800.553.3445, ext.
106. 
Table Of Contents - July 2003
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