“Beyond Thankful”: A Handcycle Puts LJ Shurpik on the Road to the NYC Marathon

CONCORD, N.H. — LJ Shurpik has wanted to handcycle a marathon ever since she spent a race season photographing a nonprofit’s marathon team. The one thing standing in the way was equipment. Now, with an adaptive handcycle provided by The ReM.A.R.C.able Foundation, she’s training for the New York City Marathon.

LJ, 33, was born missing bones in her right foot and leg. Her foot was amputated when she was one year old so she could be fitted with a prosthetic. At seven, a leg-lengthening surgery led to more than 100 surgeries and procedures. When she was ten, her knee collapsed, and she had an above-knee amputation.

Apart from one scar revision, she has been surgery-free since. Today she works as a medical biller and as a tasting room host at a distillery, and she has found healing through mountain climbing, CrossFit, and skiing.

Through the help of The ReM.A.R.C.able Foundation, I now have my own handcycle and will be able to take my training to the next level. I am beyond thankful for this assistance and making this long term goal come true!

LJ Shurpik

Equipment that changes what’s possible

Adaptive sports equipment is expensive and rarely covered by insurance, and for many athletes it’s the single biggest barrier to competing. Funding equipment like LJ’s handcycle is one of the foundation’s core programs, alongside financial assistance for caregivers and grants to disability-focused organizations.

What an adaptive handcycle makes possible

An adaptive handcycle is powered by the arms instead of the legs, letting athletes with lower-limb amputations, spinal cord injuries, and other mobility challenges ride, train, and race. The New York City Marathon includes a handcycle division, which gives LJ a clear goal to train toward.

For LJ, the handcycle adds one more way to move to a life already full of mountain climbing, CrossFit, and skiing. It also removes the barrier she named herself: the equipment.

How the foundation funds adaptive equipment

Adaptive equipment is one of the foundation’s three core programs. Past gifts include LJ’s handcycle and a mono ski for Granite State Adaptive Sports, so more skiers with disabilities can get on the mountain. Individuals and organizations can reach out through our contact form to tell us what they need.

Adaptive handcycle FAQ

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