After a horrific bike accident in 2007, that left Mark Stephan paralyzed from the neck down, doctors told him he’d never walk again.
Five months later, Mark defied all expectations and walked out of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).
To raise money for the RIC, Stephan is undertaking a grueling journey: cycling 3,129 across the country. Although he can walk with some difficulty, before he began training for this trip, Stephan hadn’t been on a bike. But that was a small obstacle for someone who has already overcome so much.
According to his website, “The Stephan Challenge is more than a one-time ride. It’s a culmination of years of grueling training to prove that the mind is more powerful than the body—or, in Mark’s case, that he can walk and ride a bike against all medical odds.
The Stephan Challenge began in April, and you can follow Stephan’s progress across the country on the team’s website: stephanchallenge.com. Although the ride is already underway, they are still looking for sponsors and individuals interested in riding part of the way with Stephan. Learn more at stephanchallenge.com.
