LARNED — A decorated Marine who lost both his legs above the knee to an explosive while deployed in Afghanistan in 2010 is scheduled to stop in Larned Friday. He’s embarked on a 5,400 mile bicycle route to raise money and awareness for American veterans.
Rob Jones is a double amputee Marine Veteran who lost his legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan in 2010.
Jones was scheduled to cycle Friday from Nickerson through Larned via 140th Street (starting at 10th Ave.), K-19, Broadway Street, K-156, and U.S. 183 (ending at Ave. X).
The public is invited to attend a reception for Jones at the American Legion, 11 E. 7th St. at 5 p.m. Friday. He is scheduled to spend Friday night in Larned at the Rodeway Inn.
Jones has since relearned how to ride a bicycle with prosthetic legs and he is now cycling across America to raise awareness and to pay it forward to the Veteran organizations that helped him during his recovery.
Through his monumental cycling effort, Jones hopes to raise $1 million for veterans’ charities such as The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, The Semper Fi Fund and Ride2Recovery.
Why?
“It’s simple, really,” Jones said. “I am giving back to the organizations that were there for me in my darkest hours. They helped me stand back up on new legs; learn to walk, run, ride a bike again and become a world-class rower.
“With the help of patriotic and generous Americans, I intend to pay it forward, so those organizations can help even more wounded soldiers like me, in their time of greatest need.”
After his injury, Purple Heart and honorable discharge in 2011, the combat engineer endured intensive training with prosthetic legs on his road to recovery.
Jones won a slot in the 2012 London Paralympics, bringing home a bronze medal in rowing.
Jones began his epic journey on Oct. 14, 2013, from Bar Harbor, Maine, with California as a goal.
It’s no easy task, as he pedals through all weathers and all highway terrains at the rate of 35 miles per day with his brother Steve following behind him in a support truck.
Jones has a Facebook website that has tracked him through the first half of the journey, www.robjonesjourney.com.
Visit http://www.robjonesjourney.com/ to donate, to like Rob on Facebook, or to see his route on an interactive map. On Friday find out exactly where Rob is on his route by clicking on the link “this is where I am today” and ride some of his journey with him.
Pawnee County is invited to welcome Jones and show him support as he cycles through Larned.
A video on Jones is shown at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYUQ78wFowU
Decorated Marine scheduled to make stop in Larned
