¦ March 28, 2010
GENERAL PETRAEUS HELPS EVENT TAKE FIRST STEPS
By Dave Lewandowski, reprinted from Indycar.com, photo courtesy IRL

  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tampa Bay glistened in the setting sun as more than 1,200 participants passed under a multi-color balloon arch in Straub Park March 26 to start the inaugural Racing to Recovery Run, Walk, ‘N Wheel-a-thon.

On a knoll 100 yards away, Sam Schmidt gathered in the proceedings with a sense of satisfaction for this victory lap of sorts. The founder and inspirational backbone of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation watched as families, college students, grandparents, wheelchair-bound youngsters and wounded military servicemen began their tour of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race course.

Sure he would have liked to be running in the 5K fund-raiser for spinal cord injury research and to support local challenged athletes, but being paralyzed from the neck down as the result of an auto racing accident a decade ago doesn’t allow for such range of motion. So he runs another race through the foundation – to financially support research that might one day free him and the estimated 6 million other Americans living with some form of paralysis from their wheelchairs.

“Our motto is racing to recovery, so this is a very appropriate event to what we do,” the Firestone Indy Lights team owner said. “To see the people who are competing here, as well as the amputees from the armed forces, really brings it to heart the sacrifices they’ve made to protect our freedom. A lot of great things are happening tonight.”

U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus wholeheartedly agreed. The commander of U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla., and former commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq met up with Schmidt and wounded military personnel – many of whom wore T-shirts with the slogan “Front Line to Finish Line” – before the event.

“I’ve had a broken pelvis, I’ve been shot but none of that compares with what these great young troopers are going through,” said Petraeus, who also received treatment for prostate cancer last autumn. “The spirit that they display I find absolutely inspirational. They often thank us for giving them energy. It’s the other way around.”

Army veteran Gary Boggs of Melbourne, Fla., who lost his left eye and suffered multiple other injuries because of a roadside bomb explosion in Iraq in 2003, was energized by meeting Petraeus, Schmidt and by the event in general.

Boggs travels throughout the state as a motivational speaker and spokesman for the TAMCO Foundation, which embraces wounded military men and women and their families throughout their recovery as they rebuild their lives and endure associated challenges from their disabilities.

“I still have a lot to give,” said Boggs, who walked the course. “When I got injured, I thought my life was over. ‘What am I going to do now?’ I thought. Now when I go to the hospital and meet with wounded soldiers and they see me up and around, getting on with my life, I like to think I’m the light at the end of the tunnel for them. It works for both of us.”

Just before leading the pack under the balloon arch, Petraeus – the grand marshal for the sixth Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg -- leaned into a circle of youngsters who would wheel themselves around the course. “Here’s the deal,” he told them with a smile. “Go out there and have fun. You just can’t pass me.”