In a few sentences, tell us about the course you've chosen or designed for this year's Run-Walk-Roll event: I've had quite a bit of coffee and I'd like to capitalize on the situation by proposing a course which may not be feasible. I am an L1 Complete Paraplegic with minimal lower leg function and will try to ride my first solo 100 mile day, using my recumbent, foot pedal trike. The course is composed of 1/3 pavement and 2/3 gravel mountain roads with lions and wolves and bears, oh my! The total elevation gain will be around 8000 ft. I will be using battery power assist at the minimum level possible to enable the mileage.

Describe your connection to U2FP, why you chose to run in support of U2FP, and your personal connection to the spinal cord injury and paralysis community: I was injured in a vehicle rollover ejection in 2017. As a result, I was initiated into the spinal cord injured (SCI) community, sustaining an L1 vertebral burst fracture and paraplegia. I learned quickly, through my and my friends' injuries, that SCI meant more than just an inability to walk. It meant impairment to basic life functions: bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction, temperature and blood pressure regulation, degraded respiratory function, bodily muscle spasms and severe neuropathic pain.... this is SCI. I also discovered that the institutional norm was to just live with the condition. Very few were trying to change the landscape to improve function. That's when I found U2FP, whose express purpose is to improve the lives of those living with SCI, advocating for functional recovery through research. I now work for U2FP and I'm even more convinced that this is a worthy organization to invest in.

What is your fundraising goal?: $10,000

How far are you planning to go?: 100 miles

What is your goal time for that distance?: 12 hours

What do you crave after training? Nothing really jumps to mind.

Do you listen to anything when you train? The White Stripes Pandora station

What makes you nervous or excited about the Run-Walk-Roll? I'm excited to see if I can make this happen. I only have one battery right now and it will require a minimum charging time that might make it REALLY difficult to get this done in a day! What makes me nervous is asking regular old folks for their hard-earned cash. That's something I struggle with, but it gives people an opportunity to show that they care.

Fun Facts - tell us something unique or interesting about you? Maybe it's interesting that I am an extreme pragmatist, which makes me pretty predictable not very unique!