FOX 5 SAN DIEGO -- A former Marine captain severely injured in Afghanistan is donating his $100,000 ReWalk robotic legs so that others can walk again.

​Derek Herrera, with Spinal Singularity,  was one of the first patients with a spinal cord injury to get a Rewalk Exoskeleton.

“It enabled me to stand and walk again," Herrera said. "It caused me to question a lot of things that I thought were not possible in my life.”

The robotic legs are used to help people with spinal cord injuries to regain upright mobility. Herrera has a newer set of Rewalk Exoskeleton legs and will be working with new technologies to help other people with spinal injuries live a more full life.

Herrera is donating  his original robotic legs to the VIP NeuroRehabilitation Center in Miramar. He said he hopes his contribution of the exoskeleton will let others to walk again.

"It was really important for me physically, mentally, but also psychologically. So it single-handedly changed the course of my life,” said Herrera.

Watch the full interview with Fox 5 San Diego here:
https://fox5sandiego.com/2019/12/10/former-marine-donates-robotic-legs-to-help-others-with-spinal-cord-injuries/

Mission Complete! The guys rolled into their final stop Friday. It sounds like the ride was quite a journey.

Since they had never ridden together, or spent time together since Navy Training days, there were a lot of unknowns. They ended up averaging between 16 and 17 mph most days- making much better time than anticipated. They even arrived a day early!

The continual police escorts kept them not only safe, but it helped save time by not having to stop a lot for stop lights and traffic.

They didn’t kill each other while being stuffed together in RVs for 12 days.

Some of the guys didn’t even own a road bike until the end of last year. None of them had ever organized a ride or fundraising event. To pull this off so well was truly amazing!

Right before the ride started, storms hit parts of the east coast. But for most of the ride- they didn’t see rain, except when it was welcomed in the stifling heat.

Right after they hit 1000 miles on the odometer on Friday, a huge rain storm hit Ft Pierce; threatening to cancel all of the Seal Museum’s annual outdoor events and demonstrations for the next day. Low and behold, sunshine peeked through the clouds as the guys were introduced in front of the crowd. All the fun festivities went on as planned.

The 2 RVs were generously donated for the boys to use for the entire journey-plus gas! That was a huge blessing!

The men who came along for support were amazing. They drove all the vehicles, staged the rest stops with replenishments, tuned bikes after rides, did laundry, and scouted out places for dinner in the evenings. This allowed the guys to keep up with interviews, clean up, and get their things ready for the ride the next day.

The VFW, Elks Lodge, or American Legion hosted the boys at every stop in the evenings- allowing them to park the RVs in their lots at night. They met some great people!

Lastly, the fire station in Ft Pierce allowed the team to park the RVs in their lot, and basically let them take over the fire station! Such nice people!

Though not a cake walk, the journey couldn’t have gone better!! ​

(pictured above-BBT riders hitting the surf, a SEAL tradition, at Fort Pierce FL, their final destination)

The Beyond the Teams 1,000 Mile Bike Ride has started!!! Follow along HERE for daily update and happenings! If you come by the clinic, we will have a board updating everyone of their progress as well! Best of luck to all the riders!

VIP & Beyond the Teams were featured on KUSI: Good Morning San Diego!

​Watch the full video below or use KUSI article link:
https://www.kusi.com/ex-navy-seals-launch-1000-mile-bike-ride-fundraiser/

In honor of the Beyond the Teams Bike Ride, starting TODAY (October 28th), VIP is giving followers a chance to win a Resco Watch with DaLuca Straps!!! Follow us on Instagram (@vipneurorehab) for all details and how to enter! 

Contest will run the duration of the bike ride, with a winner being drawn on the final day (November 9th). 

VIP would like to wish the 5 riders good luck and a big THANK YOU for all they are doing to help support VIP! They are amazing! 

Looking for a great way to support VIP and the Beyond the Teams bike ride?
​Purchase a shirt for yourself and a friend by ! Visit Bonfire's Beyond the Teams Apparel to purchase a shirt, tank top or sweatshirt! Youth sizes are available as well. 

VIP is proud to award Adam with VIP Scholarship and welcome him back to VIP after being out of San Diego for a few years!

Adam suffered a spinal cord injury in a construction accident several years ago and is determined to gain all he can back! Adam is also looking forward to getting on the rock wall at VIP!  He is a great example of a never stop attitude and we are proud to have him as part of the VIP family!

Adam's scholarship was made possible through various donors to the VIP Scholarship Program! 

Thank you to all those who joined us last Saturday, October 5th, for the VIP 5th Annual Fundraiser! It was a great night of fun, pizza, and trivia! Check out these amazing photos from Lindsey McCoy Photography! 

Be sure to continue following Beyond the Teams for their 1,000 Mile Bike Ride to raise support for VIP! They begin October 28th and ride through November 9th!