Children & Adult Mobility Project *C.A.M.P.* "Ride Across America"

Ti-Trikes, Inc of South Windsor, Connecticut has signed on as a major sponsor for the Ride Across America Fundraising event to help provide rehabilitation equipment for soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ti-Trikes will provide six new front wheel drive titanium recumbent Trikes for the Ride Across America. Ti-Trikes has also agreed to supply a vehicle to provide support services to the riders.   I am proud to say Ti Trikes is one of my East Coast customers with whom I just started supplying titanium tubing to.  They are located at:

310 Nutmeg Road South, Suite C-5
South Windsor, CT 06074
Telephone: 860-543-5381
Fax: 860-289-2008
Email: info@campmobilityproject.org

Contact Person: Kenneth J. Messier, President

Children & Adult Mobility Project (C.A.M.P.) is hosting a fundraising "Ride Across America" this summer, leaving CT June 14th and arriving San Francisco, CA 8/21. We will have 4-5 riders for the full 3800 miles with hopefully several hundred during specific days start, finish and a few other locations. They are also are planning to be part of the parade and 4th of July celebration in New Harmony, Indiana. 

The Connecticut State Police will be providing an Escort service on start day and are contacting State Police agencies across the country for continued escort services. June 14th (A Flag Day start) festivities will be covered locally by NBC 30.

They also are:

Military Ambulation Project: C.A.M.P. seeks to provide the latest revolutionary physical therapy equipment, developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in partnership with Enduro Medical Technology, to severely injured soldiers still arriving almost daily from Iraq & Afghanistan. This equipment is needed immediately by these individual soldiers to allow them to regain the physical well-being that has been taken from them by the ravages of war.

S.A.M. now serving:

Fundraising Goal for the Ride Across America
The Children & Adult Mobility Project is seeking to raise $250,000 with its Ride Across America enabling the purchase this year of fifteen (15) Secure Ambulation Modules, a revolutionary new physical therapy product developed through a partnership between NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Enduro Medical Technology, Inc. These Secure Ambulation Modules (S.A.M.), at a cost of $15,000 each, will be donated to the Department of Defense military hospitals and Veterans Administration Hospitals. They will be used in their physical therapy clinics and physical therapy in-patient units and on appropriate nursing units for the rehabilitation of soldiers injure in IRAQ, Afghanistan. In addition, they will serve veterans and their families who are undergoing treatments where the use of S.A.M. is beneficial.

Honorary Ride Chairman: Wilbur J. Messier, US Marine Corps (1942-45) WWII veteran of Battle for Guadalcanal. Mr. Messier is a resident of Manchester, CT.

Military Ambulation Project: C.A.M.P. seeks to provide the latest revolutionary physical therapy equipment, developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in partnership with Enduro Medical Technology, to severely injured soldiers still arriving almost daily from Iraq & Afghanistan. This equipment is needed immediately by these individual soldiers to allow them to regain the physical well-being that has been taken from them by the ravages of war. Pledges and sponsors for the "Ride Across America" will allow C.A.M.P. to donate S.A.M.s to Bethesda Naval Hospital, and V.A. hospitals across the country including CT, San Francisco, Tampa, Richmond and others based on your support. 

Soldier
@ Edward Hines
V.A. Hospital,
Hines, IL

SSgt. Geddes @
Walter Reed Army
Medical Center

SSgt Herbert G (disabled vet)
Mr. G is a 30 year old, 6'3", 230 pound, disabled veteran who suffered injury to his spinal cord at T-10 which was not severed. He was the first person who used S.A.M. for treatment at Walter Reed. Mr. G. had been wheelchair bound for the past 2 years and was slowly becoming more and more wheelchair dependent. With the assistance of four people we were able to get Mr. G. into S.A.M. - standing for the first time in what Mr. G. said was a very long time. Mr. G. was able to spend some 20 minutes in a standing position and with extreme difficulty took 20 to 30 steps. Mr. G. felt safe and secure in S.A.M., he no longer had a fear of falling to the ground and did not have to fear being lowered to the ground by staff, as he became tired from this major exertion. Over the next several weeks Mr. G. continued to use S.A.M. three times or more per week for up to an hour a day. He then used S.A.M. for support as he began to do squats to strengthen his leg muscles. Mr. G. continued to show progress as I visited Walter Reed in April and May, now walking in getting into S.A.M. with minimal assistance and walking for up to an hour. Mr. G. had worked diligently and really focused on his own recovery for six months leading up to my July visit. When I entered the Physical Therapy clinic, Mr. G. was sitting in his wheelchair, near the parallel bars. I asked why he was not using S.A.M. and his response was an excited "watch this" as he stood on his own next to the parallel bars and walked back and forth several times with a minimal amount of touching. Although he still uses a wheelchair when going any distances, he is able to get out of a chair on his own, get to the bathroom on his own and has regained a tremendous amount of independence that had been lost.

Results from Walter Reed Army Medical Center testing:

Lieutenant Matt:
Matt is young officer who suffered rifle wounds in Iraq which shattered his pelvis and fractured several vertebrae in his spine. He stated that the wounds occurred two months previously and that he has undergone many, many operations to fuse his spine, repair pelvis and treat wounds and loss of muscles in buttock and thighs. Matt is currently wheelchair bound and has casting from neck to waist. Therapists have attempted to stand and ambulate Matt, he gets very light headed after 2-3 steps and must sit down. He is very fearful of falling and/or being dropped. His mom and other family members from Washington and California are visiting and offering moral support. Matt is full weight bearing and it was decided by therapists to try treatment using the Enduro Medical Technology Secure Ambulation Module (S.A.M.). Details on how the treatment was going to be carried out were explained to Matt and to his family. The harness was easily secured to Matt and he was assisted into a standing position and into S.A.M. LT. Matt walked a few steps around the room (which was fairly crowded with other patients and therapists. He felt very comfortable and we walked out in the corridor for several hundred feet. When we reached an exit door to the patio, LT. Matt requested that he be able to walk in S.A.M. on the patio. This required Matt to work harder as he had to walk S.A.M. up a ramp to the patio. Matt walked on the outside patio for about fifteen minutes, enjoying the beautiful sunshine for the first time in weeks. He then proceeded back into the building, down the corridor and back to the therapy room. Lt. Matt stood and walked for over 45 minutes in total for a first treatment. He never felt light headed and always felt secure. Matt felt well enough after the walking and standing treatment to still undergo another 30 minutes of stretching exercises. It is the belief of the therapy staff, the family, Enduro Medical staff and Lt. Matt that his chances of a more rapid successful recovery will be dramatically improved if a Secure Ambulation Module - S.A.M. is made available to him on a daily basis

Patient Brian
Brian suffered a traumatic brain injury from an IED explosion in Iraq. He has significant hemi-peresis on one side. He is currently an outpatient on base at Walter Reed waiting for enough healing to take place for a plate to be secured in his skull. He is going to physical therapy primarily for gait training. Brian is full weight bearing, but favors his good side. When Brian walks with a walker, he steps fully with his good leg and then brings his poor leg up to the good leg, rather than stepping through with a full step. Brian also leans significantly to the weaker side. When placed in S.A.M. for treatment, Brian was no longer fearful of falling and took complete strides with both legs, when reminded, he did not lean. It is believed that S.A.M. should be used for gait training and to stand and exercise his weakened side in a safe secure environment.

The Admiral
The Admiral is retired and in his 80's. He is at Walter Reed for treatment of problems associated with many geriatric patients who have aged and have physical deterioration and are very weak due to an illness. The Admiral would like to be able to get well enough to walk and return to an independent lifestyle. Standing therapy and gait training are a critical component of the care needed to meet this objective. There is no equipment currently available at Walter Reed to allow the Admiral to stand and exercise in a secure fall free environment; where the therapists can assist the Admiral in strength exercises without have to hold him in a standing position. One particular therapy that was done with the Admiral was to stand him in S.A.M. and walk him over to a hand and arm exercise machine. He proceeded to exercise for 10-15 minutes while in a therapeutic standing position.

Captain Dan
Captain Dan was well on his way to recovery from an IED injury to his lower leg which has been set with numerous pins and plates. He is also receiving skin grafts to that area. Capt. Dan is non weight bearing on his injured leg. He is able to walk with crutches as long as he hops on his good foot. Captain Dan was treated in S.A.M., using S.A.M. as a secure standing device as the therapist worked with him on strengthening exercises for the muscles in his lower leg.

Reviews

Photos