The Heroes Project Gets You Fit While Helping Wounded Veterans

If you have been looking for an organization to get behind or a challenging fitness event to train for, look to The Heroes Project. The organization was founded by adventurer Tim Wayne Medvetz, who on September 10th, 2001 suffered severe and life-altering injuries caused by a motorcycle accident. After a year of recovery and months of an unhealthy lifestyle spiral, he willed himself to climb Mount Everest. The event brought him back to life and he knew he needed to help others do the same. According to The Heroes Project, Medvetz’s goal was, “to take a wounded veteran with him on his next climb. He realized that if he could renew his faith in himself on the summit of a mountain, he could help others do so as well.”

Medvetz began his charity to make a difference in the quality of life for veterans and their families. By assisting injured war veterans in emotional and physical training and challenging expeditions, The Heroes Projects enables them to get a second start at life. “These expeditions challenge the severely wounded to redefine their personal limits post injury The Heroes Project inspires our injured military veterans to find purpose, both physically and mentally, and ignites others to do the same.”

Last year I took part in Cycle For Heroes NYC, and it was hands down one of the best nights of the year. Riding as a team of three, my friends and I partnered to raise money to support an amazing cause, and we met veterans and the team behind The Heroes Project. On a west side pier of Manhattan, with the Hudson River and a setting sun as the backdrop, we were led by Equinox trainers and inspirational videos for a full sweat and an amazing ride. The night was inspiring, grounding, and motivational, to say the least.

Being in the presence of Tim, his team, the veterans who have completed his challenges in the past, and current trainees will make you realize how important this cause is. Kirstie Ennis served in the Marine Corps for six years and performed duties as a helicopter door gunner and airframes mechanic on the CH-53 platforms. In 2012 she sustained various injuries including an above-the-knee amputation on her left leg, as well as full thickness facial trauma, traumatic brain injury, cervical and lumbar spine trauma, and bilateral shoulder damage. She is a 2017 Featured Hero who is training to tackle one of the most difficult of the eight summits of the world—Carstensz Pyramid—all while completing her Masters in Business Administration. Talk about inspirational.

I urge you to get a group of friends together and get involved in a future event with The Heroes Project. Cycle for Heroes is hosted in New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas once a year. You can choose to ride as a team or solo and have the opportunity to invite friend and family to watch you ride and support your cause. If cycling isn’t for you, you can also opt to join Climb for Heroes, which takes place in the Los Angeles hills once a year.

Will you give The Heroes Project a try? What other charities are you involved in?