Wounded Warriors  

 

LifeQuest Wounded Warrior ProgramOn September 18th, forty-seven wounded warriors from Ft. Carson participated in a unique event and got a taste of Adventure Racing. The event was the LifeQuest Introduction to Adventure Racing. The day was filled with challenges, both physical as well as mental; and these “racers” met their trials with determination, ending the day with a lot of adrenaline and motivation.

Adventure racing is a competitive event that combines multiple outdoor sports such as mountain biking, trail running, trekking, orienteering, kayaking, climbing, rope skills, and more. The events can last a few hours or days. The “super bowl” of adventure racing is Eco-Primal Quest, a 600-mile race that must be completed in 10 days. “Dynamics of the sport form an environment where a person finds out what they’re really made of,” remarks CW Conner, the team founder. “They push personal limits as well as those of the team. Adventure Racing creates a microcosm of life and challenges the participants to reach deep within themselves, inspiring personal growth and change.”

“The Lt. Col. (responsible for these wounded soldiers) immediately saw the LifeQuest program as complimentary to the efforts of the WTB staff,” Mr. Conner noted. “We are excited to help. Our soldiers, returning from theaters of war, are hurt and their reserves are on empty; we want to provide these men and women a chance to re-experience the adrenaline of life, and reignite their ‘warrior spirit’. That’s our mission and we are passionate about it!”

The LifeQuest event seemed to do just that. Upon arrival at the course, many soldiers appeared indifferent and prepared to be bored. As the day progressed, though, these soldiers (some of whom had not seen PT in months) became racers: kayaking, rappelling, mountain biking, and flying down zip-lines blind-folded and screaming all the way. Participants ended the day exhausted, smiling, and chanting the LifeQuest motto “Life Quest...Live It!” When asked if any of them wanted to repeat the experience, the answer was virtually unanimous; most even expressed an interest in participating in an adventure racing team and training, despite their injuries or disabilities.

CW Conner stated that, “LifeQuest feels this is THE most important thing we could be doing right now. As such, we have diverted most of our resources and time to providing this service to the soldiers at Ft. Carson. In fact, we are in the process of forming a non-profit, LifeQuest Transitions, to acquire funding so as to make this available to more soldiers and other units across the United States. Additionally, we have training programs, coaches, and services that we will offer in conjunction with these events. ” Following glowing after-action reports, it is our hope that this marks the first of many joint efforts between LifeQuest Transitions and Ft. Carson.

If you are interested in learning more about the Eagle Quest Adventure program please contact us our vist www.eaglequestadventure.org LifeQuest invites all wounded warriors, active and retired, to contact us if you are interested in participating in the program.

LifeQuest... Live It!