So, this guy with no legs walks up to the booth...

[jcbrandon]

I spent last week volunteering with Disabled Explorers at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. It was the unveiling of the new Sportsmobile W.A.V.E. 4x4 van project and I figured another person in the booth might be helpful.

It was an incredible experience. We had a continuous stream of traffic in the booth. Everyone had questions about the truck and its equipment. Many, many people told us about a friend or family member who is looking for ways to enjoy the outdoors. And a lot of disabled people tried out the wheelchair lift, hand controls, and camera system, and gave us a thumbs-up on the whole project.

Perhaps my favorite memory of the entire week was meeting Mark Ormond of the Royal Marines. While serving in Afghanistan, Mark lost both legs and his right arm. When I met him, he walked into the Disabled Explorers booth, shook my hand and introduced a couple of his fellow marines.

Here's a photo of Mark (in the center) with CSgt RM Art VM Brad Keeling on the left, Cpl Will Patten, RM, on the far right, and Lance Blair of Disabled Explorers next to Mark.



The Royal Marines came to the SEMA show seeking support for an event called the Gumpathon. They plan to run across the width of the United States. Disabled Explorers will be supporting the event and we are working out the details of that now.

[Martyn]

Great bunch of guys. I recognized them from their camo and started to talk to them, found out one of them was from a town 50 miles from where I grew up.

Had lunch with them later in the day and they said they had a great time meeting Disabled Explorers.

It's a long trek they are planning across country. Maybe as a group we could take turns escorting them during their trip, we could provide logistical support.

[Spikepretorius]

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[Mr. Leary]

Great bunch of guys. I recognized them from their camo and started to talk to them, found out one of them was from a town 50 miles from where I grew up.

Had lunch with them later in the day and they said they had a great time meeting Disabled Explorers.

It's a long trek they are planning across country. Maybe as a group we could take turns escorting them during their trip, we could provide logistical support.

I'm game. Logistics is what I do for a livin'. Could you PM me their contact info?

[jcbrandon]

I'm game. Logistics is what I do for a livin'. Could you PM me their contact info?

Thank you, Mr. Leary. PM sent.

Contacts for the Gumpathon are

Jose Diment, Event Manager
telephone: +44 (0)7971 672294
jose (at) thegumpathon (dot) com

Damian Todd, Project Leader
+44 (0)7919 00399
damian (at) thegumpathon (dot) com

and the website is:
http://www.thegumpathon.com/

[1leglance]

That guy Mark was beyond amazing...I am a below the knee amputee and get around very well. That guy is a bilateral above the knee amputee and is missing part of an arm and he gets around very very well for all that.

These guys are going to do a good thing and Mark is going to try to run 1 mile a day, that is a tremendous thing for a new bilateral double above the knee amputee. Good on them and I really hope we find a way to help them out.

Oh and J, huge thanks for all the help.