Dan Sheret goes over the equipment he must pack when he leaves on his around the world self-supported bicycle tour — Ability Trek 2007 — in June.
Panniers. Satellite phone. Water filter. Freeze-dried meals. Below-knee prosthesis for the right leg.
You see, the North Carolina man underwent an amputation of his lower right leg about five years ago because an ankle injured in an accident would not heal correctly. That didn't stop him from bicycling cross-country in 2003, and it won't stop him from bicycling around the world beginning in June 2007.
Sheret is a long-distance endurance amputee cyclist whose problem has turned into his strength and an inspiration to all who learn about his adventure and his mission.
After completing the cross-country bicycle ride, detailed at Ampucycle America 2003, Sheret led a group of amputee cyclists from Glasgow, Scotland, to Prague; he led a team of disabled riders from North Carolina to DC to prove that life doesn't end with limb loss; he traveled by bicycle for 17 days across England and Scotland to instill hope in patients in rehad centers.
This June he embarks from San Francisco — just like Tom Stevens 120 years ago — to bicycle across the US, then continue for a 16,000 mile journey across four continents.
“My goal is to create a global awareness of the situations thousands of fellow amputees find themselves in each day, and the great work, never reported that dedicated professional and volunteers does to create a better life for so many forgotten by their own cultures.”
He'll also be raising funds and awareness for two organizations:
Clear Path International, which serves landmine and bombing survivors and their families through direct medical and social services; and
Rotary International's Basra Prosthetics Project, which is raising funds to re-start an existing prosthetics center to help the estimated 5,000 amputees in Basra who have fallen victim to fighting there.
Sheret also plans to visit rehab clinics and help at a First Ride Clinic for adaptive cycling in Salt Lake City on June 21.
Sheret needs some equipment and financial support to pull this off. See the donation page at his website to see how to contribute to his ride or his partner charities. Mountain House has donated freeze-dried foods for the trek, and Arkel has donated a set of panniers he'll use on his Trek 520 touring bicycle.
Ability Trek 2007 also is seeking cyclists to ride along with Sheret on different parts of his opening cross-country trip. The trip has been broken into five 15-days segments.
You can follow his preparations and his adventures on his trip at the Ability Trek 2007 blog. Good luck, Dan!
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