Thank You for visiting my site and sharing a minute with me.

I MADE IT!   On January 31st, 2010 I became the first female paraplegic to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.  It was an incredible and amazing journey and adventure!  I am now in the history books   You can learn more about the climb, see pictures, the trailer to our documentary (which the premier is May 8 in Carlsbad) and stay informed on how you can see the documentary at our climb website: www.throughtheroofmovie.com .   

So more about me.  I give motivational speeches to businesses, schools, triathlon clubs, graduations, and churches and pretty much to anyone who will listen. I enjoy sharing my journey and spreading awareness of the hope and opportunity in recovery as well as encouraging others that they can reach for their dreams/goals even when facing challenges. Anything is possible!  My ability to share ideas with other people is expanding. On April 17 I get the honor of sharing the stage with many well known speakers and authors as I myself will be speaking and showing the trailer to our climb documentary “Through The Roof”. 

My Physcal Education background and current sports program gives me an ideal position to share with them the ideas of helping challenged people in becoming successful in sports. And inspiring able-bodied people that if I can go “running” without using my legs, than what is their excuse   May 30, 2008, I had the privilege of speaking for the graduation of my first students when I taught in Hawaii. It was GREAT to see them all and I am very proud of them! I also just shared my story with many grade school kids and it is fun to be asked questions that only kids would ask. They take everything in more than we think and are aware of.  They get so excited.  They also all want me to autograph their hands, binders, paper, whatever…its kinda fun   I take my business cards in and give them each one to keep.  I will be doing more speaking this year as the coverage of the climb has brought that on and has helped spread my name out there.  I look forward to the many opportunites I will have in the future!

Racing starts on March 26th for me in the Redlands Classic.  I actually have 3 races for the weekend.  I have a number of races I will be competing in around the US which won’t be as many as I originally thought but how could you say no to an opportunity like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro?!?!  So we will see what this year holds for me and racing.  Hopefully great things!  I will try and keep races posted on my schedule/calendar page so check it out. 

I have been working out at 24 hr Fitness in Carlsbad and have two trainers.  Jamie Brown whom I really like his approach and style.  His workouts are not just for fitness but incorporate my recovery training as well.  I also workout with Lance Peterson whom I do cardio boxing with.  It really helps with my building up my core strength and back muscles as well as of course my arms.  I have a few workout partners that I meet there.  Then I do exercises with my mother at home more on the SCI (spinal cord injury) recovery side of things.  Some of the exercises include crawling, hands and knees, standing at my ballerina bar (front of legs braces against the furniture), total gym, floor exercises…etc.  And of course I am out on the road in my handcycle or in the pool/ocean swimming.  I am not doing triathlons right now because I do not have a racing chair that fits me unfortunately  

Why do I use a wheelchair for transportation?  I was paralyzed from the chest down on New Year’s Eve, 2005, from a tiny bleed inside my spinal cord. My goals are to recover fully and to share the challenge of Spinal Cord Recovery with thousands of people through my therapy, speaking, and sports. Thank You for contributing to my recovery by your generous donations and by bookmarking my site.

Your generous gifts go 100% to my recovery which consists of: 24 hr Fitness gym membership, training with Jamie and Lance which equals 3 times a week for 50 minutes at a time wKevin my bodyworker twice a week at hich all equals $623 a month.  Kevin, my bodyworker does neurological release and repatterning/reprogramming at the hemorrhage site 2 times a week. $200 weekly. Dr. George Rodriguez does acupuncture every week. $30 weekly. I used to drive myself to Anaheim 2 times a week for super walking therapy at Polfit for $448 week but I just can’t afford it right now.  These are just my training/therapy costs.  Does not include the extra daily living costs or buying new equipment.   But it is all worth it and I ‘m showing amazing progress.   Thank you for your donations in making all this possible!

Once again, thank-you for visiting my recovery site. Your donations continue further support for my recovery. You give me the opportunity to travel to races and show others and myself that I can still go for my dreams and help smooth the path for other athletes. May God continue to bless you and to bless me. Thank-you!

You can also email me at Erica@TriTeamErica.com