Amputee Bicyclists Begin European Adventure

From left: Dan Sheret, Brad Kennedy, and Mitch Reinitz After a 52-day bike trek across America in 2003, Dan Sheret, age 42, a transtibial amputee from Wilmington, North Carolina, said, "I realized I had to go home and throw away my handicap sticker." And now, Sheret is extending his grand adventure by being part of "Discovery Tour '04," sponsored by Otto Bock HealthCare, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Along with fellow amputees Mitch Reinitz, 48, and Brad Kennedy, 28, Sheret began a 34-day, 2,200 bicycle tour across Europe. Arriving in Glasgow, Scotland April 28, the trio will travel through such storied and scenic lands as Scotland, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and Greece.

Others can share their experiences by visiting www.ottobockus.com and clicking on the "Discovery Tour '04 'Seize the Day,'" logo to read their daily journal.

While traveling the riders will share their personal experiences and hope to inspire others, with or without physical disabilities, to "get off the couch."

I refuse to be defined by what I've lost," says Kennedy, a prosthetist and transfemoral amputee who lost his leg due to a car accident when he was 17. Kennedy hails from Jackson, Mississippi. "I want to let other people in my situation know that if they put their mind to it and have the willpower, nothing is impossible," he added.

Reinitz, who is an engineer with Boeing in Seattle, Washington, agrees. "I like to refer to myself as an able-bodied amputee. Cycling across Europe provides a wonderful forum to demonstrate that amputees can have very active lives, and we can accomplish strenuous goals that might even intimidate the totally able-bodied." Reinitz, who had been an avid mountain climber and downhill skier, made the difficult decision to amputate a foot and leg to end debilitating pain caused by a degenerative condition.

Sheret too decided on amputation, after three corrective surgeries, to end pain from a shattered right ankle. Sheret underwent an Ertl amputation.

All are wearing prostheses from Otto Bock. Kennedy was one of the first C-Leg® wearers in the US and has fit nearly two dozen of his own patients with the C-Leg. Reinitz uses the Harmony® System and the LuXon® Max foot. Sheret also uses the Harmony System and an Otto Bock foot.

Otto Bock HealthCare is the North and South American headquarters of Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH, based in Duderstadt, Germany. The company employs more than 3,300 persons in 32 countries, including more than 350 in North America.

Photos and map courtesy of Otto Bock HealthCare.

Amputee Bicyclists Begin European Adventure

OWW Device Finalist in Design Award Competition

Hanger Presents ‘Fair of Firsts’

Hanger Presents ‘Fair of Firsts’

RECENT NEWS

Pace Prosthetics Set to Open More Clinics

Ottobock Taps VP, CPO for New Position

Framework for Prosthesis Prescription Proposed

Bionic P&O Hires

Get unlimited access!

O&P JOBS

CPO needed in South Florida

Open Faculty position – Rehabilitation Engineering, Prosthetics/Orthotics – Northwestern University

Bold City Orthotics and Prosthetics is Growing!

The most important industry news and events delivered directly to your inbox every week.

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Amputee Bicyclists Begin European Adventure

Support authors and subscribe to content

Subscribe

Related posts:

OWW Device Finalist in Design Award Competition

Hanger Presents ‘Fair of Firsts’

RECENT NEWS

Get unlimited access!

O&P JOBS

The most important industry news and events delivered directly to your inbox every week.

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Login to your account

Reset Password

Signup to your Account

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Account Activation