Siemens AG: Running for Handcycles

Team Hope For The Warriors® is honored to be supported by Siemens AG, a worldwide enterprise specializing in electronics and electrical engineering of energy and healthcare industries.  Siemens has been a corporate sponsor of Hope For The Warriors® for several years and has contributed both monetary and volunteer support from across the nation.  Mr. James Whaley, Siemens’ Senior VP of Marketing & Communications, sits on the Hope For The Warriors® Board of Directors. 

Continuing their dedication to further our mission, Siemens hosted a run/walk event on Tuesday, January 10 to benefit the Team.  This event was part of their Entry Level Leadership Development Program, designed to mark their patriotism and support of our nation’s wounded heroes and their families.  The Siemen offices in Charlotte, NC planned and executed the event as part of a larger, nationwide initiative by the company to support Hope For The Warriors® through fundraising events, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities.     

The Siemens crew of Charlotte, NC

The event was a huge success, with nearly 90 employees participating in the walk/jog. They began with a $20,000 goal, and chose to give all proceeds to Team Hope For The Warriors®, in an effort to provide more wounded service members with handcycles and recumbent bikes. Handcycles and recumbent bikes are essential to reviving a warrior’s competitive spirit and reintegrating them back into a healthy civilian lifestyle.  Through the generous support of those who participated, over $10,000 was raised from the event alone, with an additional $37,000 to be donated from Siemens divisions and groups, totaling more than $47,000.

Matt (second from the left) American Odyssey Relay, 2011

Enough funds were raised to support the purchase of two handcycles for Team Hope For The Warriors® service members.  Matt Austin and Chris Odom, both of whom are active members of the Team, were the recipients.  Matt has participated in the American Odyssey Relay, completed the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, and numerous events by Camp Lejeune.  

Chris carb loading at the MCM pre-race dinner!

 Chris completed the entire 2011 Marine Corps Marathon on a borrowed handcycle – his first time ever riding a handcycle, and he tackled 26.2 miles without a hitch! I’d say he’s quite deserving of his own…

This is what we’re here for and why we do what we do, my friends!  A great thank you to Siemens and all those who made the Charlotte event a success!! Your work and dedication will be seen out on the streets - looking forward to seeing Matt and Chris out there on their snazzy new wheels :) 

Inspiration, Dedication, Motivation – Paul & Sally Kelly

"Life with a disability is not a life filled with despair; it is a life filled with hope." -- Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly has committed his life to serving as an inspiration to others.  Having been a solid fixture with Team Hope For The Warriors® for several years and surely many to come, Paul brings his own disability to the table in his passion to support wounded service members, their families, and families of the fallen. 

Paul’s story is nothing less than magical:

Thirty-two years ago, Paul's life changed forever when he broke his neck in a swimming pool accident. Determined not to let new life as a quadriplegic slow him down, Paul sought fitness activities to maintain an active lifestyle. 

The 31^st Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) in 2006 sparked his endurance and fundraising career.  Sitting in his wheelchair at the start of the marathon to cheer for his niece, he saw the sight that changed his life.  He had never seen handcyclists before, and there they were, lined up in the front of the pack.  Hand-crank wheelchairs allow those with limited limb mobility to participate in such races.  Hey, if these guys can do it, so could he!  A new goal had been set – to complete a MCM.

I wanted to use my disability and achievements as an inspiration to others.

 Not only was Paul going to learn to handcycle and compete, he hoped to do more by training and racing for charity.  Feeling a connection with his own disability to those who have been injured while defending our country, Paul knew exactly who to he wanted to help – combat wounded service members.  The combination of his athletic goals and desire to support and inspire others made Team Hope For The Warriors® his perfect fit.

I thought I might inspire others with my example, but over and over again, it was I who was inspired.

In his new adventure, Paul had the rare opportunity to race alongside world-class athletes, many with disabilities. Support from runners and other athletes poured in through his blog and along the race routes. One especially memorable moment occurred during the MCM when the cheers from other runners yelling Go Wheels! was at times deafening. At the finish line, announcer Rob Powers announced his finish with such emotion that Paul and many others were brought to tears.

Taking his mission another step further, he set a goal to reach 2008 miles on his handcycle through training, races and fundraising events.  Paul has long surpassed this goal, vowing then to go as far as it takes to fulfill his promise of $26,200 – $1,000 for every mile in a marathon.

Please find more on Paul’s Promise: 2008 Miles of Hope
 

These brave service men and women are our neighbors. They are our friends. All too often, they are our family. -- Sally Kelly

A notable deciding factor for Paul in choosing Hope For The Warriors® is our commitment not only service members but their families as well.  Having experienced a very similar situation to those injured in combat, Paul knows the impact on families and the value of their strength in the rehabilitation process.  

Paul & Sally

His wife, Sally, has gone above and beyond in dedicating her life to helping others: Sally is an active member of Beta Sigma Phi International, a non-academic sorority consisting of 200,000 women in 30 countries. Through service projects, Beta Sigma Phi’s members donate more than 200,000 hours and $3 million annually to charitable causes. Sally has spearheaded the project Carolinas’ Torch of Hope, organized to benefit Hope For The Warriors®. Through her leadership in Beta Sigma Phi, the North and South Carolina Chapters adopted Hope For The Warriors® as a state service project. 



People often ask if I'm a wounded veteran. I'm not a warrior; I am a grateful beneficiary of their sacrifices.

To date, Paul and Sally have raised over $22,000 in donations. It took Paul two years to achieve his initial goal of the Marine Corps Marathon.  And Team Kelly has not stopped since!  Paul has conquered several half and full marathons along the east coast and has no plans of slowing down.  It is their goal to spread hope and inspiration in each race and in everything they do.

We are honored that Paul and Sally Kelly have contributed their efforts to Hope For The Warriors® - certainly inspirational Team members that make it all worthwhile!  

Paul: 2008 Miles of Hope

Sally’s charity: Carolinas’ Torch of Hope

A MCM regular!