About to fly to Brazil to participate as a hand cyclist on the Achilles Freedom Team, Army Veteran Alfredo De los santos, 41, has already raced in the Warrior Games in Colorado, the Boston Marathon, New York Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon and 100 mile Face of America race from DC to Gettysburg.
Looking into the future, he’s signed up for the Army 10 Miler competition, and for the NYC and Marine Corps Marathons and VA Games in Pittsburgh.
“He’s one of the most active guys I’ve seen,” said Neil Carbone, Chief Prosthetist, VANYHHS. While fitting De los santos for a new above-the-knee prosthetic Carbone joined his patient in naming the races De los Santos has participated in over the last year-and-a-half. “It’s awe inspiring,” said Carbone.
De los santos’ right leg was blasted off about two years ago in Afghanistan by an RPG. He was medi-vaced via Germany to the United States. He started hand cycling as part of physical therapy at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC.
Then, his life as a competitive cycler really took off after he received a bicycle from VA. He races without his prosthetic leg, “because it’s lighter, faster,” he said.
De los santos sees racing as a way to keep him on track while he deals with severe TBI that has impaired his memory and his PTSD-related anxiety. When life seems stressful, said De los santos, a former graphic designer, he gets on his bike. “It keeps me busy. It gives me a routine,” said the Veteran, who is married and the father of two adolescents.
Nothing stops him. Six months after shoulder surgery for a combat-related injury that worsened with bike racing, De los Santos was back into the race. “In winter, I ski using adaptive equipment,” he said. Beyond biking and skiing, this all around athlete engages in other sports competitions — swimming, shot put, discus and javelin. It matters to him to be among other Veterans who are athletes and amputees.
“When I’m surrounded by soldiers, we’re there for each other,” he said.
Hype
The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY) April 12, 2012 WHAT’S HAPPENING MOVIES: Opening Friday, “Lockout” (PG-13); “The Three Stooges” (PG); coming April 20, “Chimpanzee” (G); “The Lucky One” (PG-13); “Darling Companion” (PG-13); “Marley” (PG-13); “To the Arctic” (G). go to website cody canada and the departed
CONCERTS: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, 7:30 p.m. Friday, First Niagara Center, One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza.
Gloriana with Ransomville, 8 p.m. Friday, Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls.
Popa Chubby, 8 p.m. Friday, Tralf, 622 Main St.
Shooter Jennings and Cody Canada and the Departed, 8 p.m. Friday, Club Infinity, 8166 Main St., Clarence.
Tommy Roe, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Bear’s Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, 310 Fourth St., Niagara Falls.
The Acacia Strain with Lionheart and more, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St.
Hey You, 7 p.m. Saturday, Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda.
Avalanche Tour featuring Shinedown with Adelitas Way and the Art of Dying, 7 p.m. Monday, Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls.
Esperanza Spalding, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts, North Campus, Amherst.
EXHIBITS: “Edward Austin Kent (1854-1912),” a film and virtual exhibit, 3 p.m. Sunday, Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Court.
“CSI: The Experience,” through April 29, Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Parkway.
POETRY: Irving Feldman, poetry reading, 2 p.m. Sunday, Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave.
PLUG IN The iHome/iPad/iPod/iPhone Speaker/LED Table Lamp/Night Light is a multipurpose device that serves as a speaker that hooks up to the iPad, iPod or iPhone, a desk lamp and a night-light. website cody canada and the departed
A perfect accessory for your desk, this three-in-one device allows you to listen to music during the day, do work at your desk during the evening and see where you are going at night, or any combination of the three.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “When Zoe and I are together, we’re like Beavis and Butt-head.” — Jennifer Lawrence, on her BFF Zoe Kravitz — daughter of “Hunger Games” co-star Lenny Kravitz — to “Good Morning America” — McClatchy Newspapers
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