On April 6, Ryan Chalmers went out for a ride on his racing wheelchair. The ride began in LA – and on June 15, it will end in NYC. Yes, you read that correctly. Ryan is doing a Push Across America. For the past two months, Ryan has been pushing an equivalent of two to three marathons a day – and tomorrow, he’ll push through Philadelphia.
Ryan was born with spina bifida, which means he does not have complete use of his legs. He started playing sports when he was eight, eventually focusing on basketball and racing. In college, he decided to focus on racing, and in 2012 he realized his dream of being a member of Team USA at the Paralympic Games in London.
So with all that success, why Push Across America? Ryan hopes to encourage others to take on challenges and give back to individuals and organizations that have made a difference in their lives. That’s why he’s doing it – to touch people’s lives and give back to Stay-Focused, an organization that he says changed his life. He has made several stops throughout his journey to offer words of inspiration and hope, including Champaign, IL; Kansas City, KS; Indianapolis, IN (with a lap around the 500 track!); Washington, D.C. and more.
Philadelphia is throwing Ryan a welcome celebration on Wednesday, June 12 at 11 a.m. in Love Park. Members of Team Magee will be there to cheer him on! Later in the day, Ryan is going to stop by Magee to visit with patients and share his story. We could not be more thrilled to have him here!
After every week, he posts a status update. Check out his update from week 8 below, and we hope to see you tomorrow at Love Park at 11 a.m. to welcome him to the City of Brotherly Love!
