Your whole life can change in a moment.
April 11, 2005: a young Marine driving a truck in Iraq hit an improvised explosive device and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury that left him unable to walk, talk or use most of the right side of his body.
Oct. 16, 2010: that same Marine, Angel Gomez, pedaled to the finish line in San Diego with 51 other cyclists after traversing more than 430 miles from Phoenix.
Gomez - honorary team captain for the ride - did not cycle the entire way, but he endured some of the most grueling portions of the ride, including a hill climb that pushed even the most seasoned cyclists.
The 52 cyclists joined forces to support The Ride for Semper Fi, which raised $250,000 for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, almost doubling their $177,500 goal.
Participants in the ride ran the gamut from serious cyclists to “average joe” riders who started to cycle purely for this ride.
“They’re everyday Americans,” said John Greenway, founder of the Ride for Semper Fi. “They train, they raise money and they work.”
Members of Team Semper Fi also participated in the ride. Team Semper Fi is an athletic organization for injured Marines and sailors who compete around the country.
Greenway founded The Ride for Semper Fi after he was so moved by the dedication and selflessness he saw at his nephew’s Marine Corps boot camp graduation that he felt his own life change in a moment.
“I’ve never done anything that compares to what these kids are doing. My nephew was 19 years old and willing to make this sacrifice. I needed to do something to help,” said Greenway.
“There’s no better place to be [than] spending time with these great Americans,” said Maj. Andy Christian, the commanding officer of Alpha Company, 1st Marine Special Operations Command. “These people are so generous. The relationships you build here will last a lifetime.”
Teammates surprised Christian, an athlete who raises money at endurance events to support the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, with a custom cycle before the start of the ride. The cycle bears his name, as well as the names of Marines from his command who have been killed in action.
“It feels like those guys were riding with me,” said Christian.
The ride ended at Sea World, where the participants and their families had a special ceremony to present a $250,000 check to representatives from the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, and then enjoyed a special video tribute at Shamu Stadium.
Gomez was all smiles as rider after rider clapped him on the back and congratulated him on a job well done.
“It feels great to get all this support,” said Gomez.
Gomez found his motivation to become an athlete when he first saw competitors from Team Semper Fi running a triathlon.
“I’d see other patients doing nothing. I was depressed and I didn’t like that. I wanted to do the things I used to do,” said Gomez.
Though Gomez says he still has a long way to go, he has joined the ranks of injured veterans who have recovered from catastrophic injuries to compete with Team Semper Fi.
Members of Team Semper Fi are often beneficiaries of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, which Greenway cites as one of his biggest sources of inspiration to continue organizing the Ride for Semper Fi.
“You see them going from ‘my life is over,’ to running across the finish line. Life is not over,” said Greenway. “The [Injured Marine Semper Fi] Fund helps them open doors.”
Some lives change in a moment of inspiration, while others change in a moment of tragedy. Greenway and Gomez have both used life changes to help others.
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