Dear Friends,

In August of 2008, I badly broke my leg in a parachute accident in the UAE.  I have been in and out of the hospital since then and endured 14 operations to save the leg.  I was told this month that I will probably never run another marathon on this leg.  Ok, moving on.
 
In order to not surrender my fundraising efforts for Achilles Track Club Freedom Team, I transferred to the wheelchair division for the first time, two weeks after my first release from hospital.  I was able to complete the New York City Marathon in a handbike on 2 November 08 in under 2 1/2 hours.  I have since completed Dubai and Bahrain Marathons.  Immediately after completing Bahrain Marathon in 2:09 at the end of February, I was MEDEVAC'd (again) to Landstuhl, Germany due to a raging infection in my leg bones, then to Bethesda naval hospital.
 
I'm an outpatient again and I've decided to try to make hay while the sun is up, strike while the iron is hot, carpe diem, for the benefit of organizations I believe passionately in and in honor of the fallen as well as the injured coalition troops with whom I've shared hospital rooms for ten months.

Injuries and doctors permitting, I will attempt to complete a known-record arm-powered crossing of Britain, from Land's End to John O'Groats, in under 10 days. My goal is to raise $100,000 for military-related charities in the US and UK.  As always, I will not use individually donated funds to defray my personal costs. I welcome any thoughts, questions, suggestions or (constructive) feedback.  I am grateful beyond words and whatever support, big or small, you can provide.
 

Warmest regards,

Rick Ryan, CDR, USN