Two Disabled Dudes

You've heard us talk about our 4-man Team, and 13-member Crew. In this episode, we chat with the other two cyclists from TeamFARA RAAM; John Lockwood and Mike Mellott. John & Mike have both been involved and supportive of many adventures throughout the years and they are always fun to reconnect with. As you'll hear, since competing in RAAM 2010, both of these dudes have married and started families of their own.  In this episode you'll enjoy feedback and personal perspectives on why each of these guys joined the team, how they managed to get through some difficult scenarios while on the race, a few favorite memories, and hear about some embarrassing moments you are welcome to make fun of! 

We never know what we are truly capable of until we find ourselves in a tough situation, when success is the only option.

Kyle's Dad, Mike Bryant joins us to talk about Team FARA in Race Across America and what it took to get the team safely across the country in "The World's Toughest Bike Race."

And Kyle tells a short story about being held hostage by a cat.

In this episode, Kyle & Sean talk about how building community has helped them and how it could help YOU.

“No man is an island…,” as John Donne reminds us.

Growing up with a rare disease is, almost by definition, lonely. Faced with physical limitations that most of our neighbors don’t have to face many times makes us feel odd. With ataxia, we go through issues with balance that make us seem awkward and clumsy; but all people with disabilities face some kind of uncommon limitation, whether its using our arms or leg, trouble hearing, speaking, or seeing, facing mental issues or any other symptom of a disability. The unfortunate result is that many of us with disabilities feel odd.

However, the truth is that people dealing with disabilities are not alone. It’s important for everyone - disabled or not - to be a part of a community, but it’s even more important for people who feel isolated to find support and understanding from those facing similar challenges as them.

“To hear from and learn from people who are in the same position...there’s nothing that compares to it.”

A lot of our focus lately has been of Friedreich’s ataxia or FA - the disease that both of us share. And that shouldn’t be a big surprise. FA has had a huge impact on us - it has forced us to see life in a different way and adapt. We have each had friends that have helped shape that impact.  One of those friends is Matt Fritsch.  Matt has a spinal cord injury and in this episode he joins us for a conversation about how community is essential for all of us no matter what disability we have.

“[Being disabled] is an exclusive club that no one joins on purpose...the parking is a right, not a privilege.”

Matt gives a few tips about navigating life with a disability. One of his most fundamental points is that we cannot do it on our own; that even though doctors, nurses, therapists, and surgeons gave him the same advice, he didn’t pay much attention to what they said, until it was told to him by someone within the spinal-cord injury community.

The need of community for those with disabilities is great. It’s easy to ignore the well-meaning advice and help from others, but when it comes from someone with the same challenges that you are facing - the advice suddenly seems much more important. This applies both within the SCI and FA communities, and among all those facing the challenge of disability.