Amputee Cyclist to Trek Around the World to Raise Awareness and Funds for Landmine Survivors
Source: Clear Path International - USA
Imbert Matthee
Website: http://cpi.org
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
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Endurance cyclist and amputee Daniel Sheret Plans to ride around the world to raise funds and awareness for Clear Path International's work with landmine and bomb survivors.
Veteran amputee endurance cyclist Dan Sheret of Wilmington, North Carolina, plans to trek around the world (www.abilitytrek.org) starting in the United States this summer to raise awareness and funds for the work of Clear Path International (www.cpi.org).
Clear Path will be one of two charities to receive contributions from sponsors of Sheret's ambitious world tour that will take him by several projects assisting landmine accident survivors. He plans to stop and visit Clear Path beneficiaries in Vietnam, Cambodia and along the Thai-Burma border.
The other charity receiving funds from his trek is the Rotary Club of Montgomery Village, Maryland, for its Basra Prosthetics Project in Amman, Jordan, in collaboration with Physicians for Peace.
In 2003, Sheret made a 3,800-mile trek across the United States from San Francisco to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to raise money for the Barr Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping amputees worldwide.
This year, Dan's trek will start in San Francisco and end in Washington, D.C, before moving on to Europe, the Middle East, Russia, China and Southeast Asia. His trek will cover 16,000 miles and four continents.
"My goal is twofold: to bring hope and awareness to amputees in need throughout developing world and to bring to light to the & prosthetics industry the great work that is being done to aid landmine victims and other amputees," Sheret said, noting landmine survivor assistance now goes largely unreported.
Sheret will become the first amputee to cycle twice across the continent. He hopes to include other riders in the trek.
While in Salt Lake City, Sheret's AbilityTrek 2007 will be hosting a First Ride Clinic in conjunction with the Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc. (OPAF). Slated for June 21, the First Ride Clinic is a free adaptive cycling clinic for the disabled to learn or re-learn the pleasures of cycling. Registration is required.
In addition, AbilityTrek 2007 is inviting interested bicyclists to support Sheret by cycling with him on his ride across America. They can now register.
The U.S. portion of the trek has been broken down into five segments lasting from 7 to 15 days. Both able-bodied and disabled cyclists are encouraged to ride with Sheret.
For more information about joining the adventure or about AbilityTrek 2007, please visit www.abilitytrek.org.
Based in the Unites States, Clear Path International assists landmine accident survivors in Vietnam, Cambodia and along the Thai-Burma border. It also sends shipments of medical equipment, orthopedic devices and surgical supplies to hospitals in mine-affected countries around the world. Learn more about Clear Path International at www.cpi.org.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
