USA: Amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan embark on a cycle journey across the United States

Record ID: 336618

  • Title: USA: Amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan embark on a cycle journey across the United States
  • Date: 14th May 2006
  • Summary: NEIL DUNCAN WHEELING BACKWARD IN HIS HANDCYCLE AND PETTING A DOG
  • Embargoed: 29th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACQH23BSQWTGU8XQWXLPXSF0Y2
  • Story Text: Soldiers who lost limbs in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are riding across the United States on bicycles and handcycles to raise awareness of the needs facing those who return from combat severely injured. On Saturday (May 13, 2006), about 20 amputees rode 40 miles (64 km) from the Navy Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. It's one stretch in the 4,400 mile (7,081 km) three-month journey called "Soldier Ride" in which at least 80 amputees are expected to participate.
    "Soldier Ride" began May 6 in Montauk, New York. Cyclists are making their way down the East coast, and are expected to continue across the country visiting rehabilitation centres and military bases before ending in Camp Pendleton, California July 29.
    Most cyclists are planning to a stretch of the 4,400 mile (7,081 kilometres) tour. But some like Army Staff Sergeant Yegor Bondarenko will attempt to go the whole length. Yegor, who lost his arm in May, 2005 from an IED explosion in Iraq 60 miles (96 kilometres) south of Baghdad, said, "I had two choices. I could either sit there and cry on a pillow all day or I could do something. So I decided I'd rather do something instead. So that's why I'm riding."
    Bondarenko is originally from Ukraine. He came to the United States in 1997 and is now a citizen. Despite losing a limb while serving with the Army in Iraq, he said he would do it all again.
    Sergio Lopez is a Specialist with the U.S. Army, and what's called a "lower bilateral amputee." He lost both legs. Lopez suffered his injury in Iraq in January of this year when an IED device exploded.
    "A lot of service members are coming back with very serious injuries. They need a lot of assistance in order to cope with their injuries," Lopez said.
    Airborne Infantry Sergeant Neil Duncan with the U.S. Army served in Afghanistan and suffered his injury as the result of an IED explosion in December 2005. He now uses a handcycle.
    "It's tough getting used to. Obviously peddling is with a smaller muscle group. You get more fatigued. I think climbing hills is probably the biggest challenge we have. There's no momentum gain. It's kind of like climbing a rope without any legs. It's step over step, hand over head, cranking away up there," Duncan said.
    Some of the soldiers who are participating in the ride are still on active duty. Some are pending retirement, and some are retired. Many of the cyclists are still receiving treatment for their injuries at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio Texas.
    This is the third annual Soldier Ride. Cycling along with the injured soldiers on the ride are supporters and family members and amputees from previous wars.
    According to the Pentagon's most recent reports, there have been 2,432 killed and 17,983 injured in the war in Iraq, and there have been 291 killed and 725 injured in the war in Afghanistan. There are more than 350 combat amputees.
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