My Motive

In June of 2022 I was struck by a drunk driver in a head-on motor vehicle accident that thankfully left me with only a pilon fractured ankle and broken foot bones. At the time of the accident I was training for a marathon that I planned on carrying into triathlon training. We attempted to save the ankle joint but there was too much cartilage damaged. We decided to fuse it, rather than amputate… and thankfully we did! The doctors said I shouldn’t run or jump anymore due to the impact and stress it puts on the remaining joints, not to mention the loss of motion from the ankle. There are not many people my age with fused ankles so it was difficult to find info about people staying really active due to the residual arthritis and loss of motion. I am lucky enough to be close to pain free after 2.5 years of being in and out of surgeries and recovery!

I love a good adventure and physical challenge, but I can’t quite endure long adventures on my feet as I could before. I knew I had to adapt to my new circumstances, and that’s where biking came in. The low impact of cycling turns out to be one of the most fun and least destructive sports for my legs, and hence, this idea was born. I’ve always wanted to do a long man-powered excursion, and the timing of things with my job and life allows me to make this dream a reality!

This trip will have been a success if I have managed to help a good cause like VCP, make a few new friends along the way, and if I’ve inspired anyone someday to go and do their own challenging journey outside their comfort zone, whatever that may look like! Live immediately!