Wounded Veterans Enjoy Surfing: Operation Amped Launched by Landmark Education Graduates
By George F on Sep 5, 2007 in Los Angeles, Sports, Video Features
Landmark Education graduates in the Team Management Leadership program in
While surfing one day in Southern Californian Tom had a chance meeting with a man named Trevor that sparked an incredible project. Trevor was born with no legs below his knees. He asked Tom to carry his board to the ocean, and Tom agreed. He crawled beside Tom on all fours towards the sea as Tom carried both surfboards. They talked on their way out to the surf, and Tom was struck by the complete normalcy of this man. They talked about their jobs, the waves, everything. Tom realized this wasn’t a man who felt sorry for himself or felt somehow robbed by fate. He was just a normal guy who was out having a good time surfing.
Tom became inspired by the desire to have amputee veterans of the Iraq conflict experience the same fun and freedom. If those soldiers fought for our freedom overseas, why shouldn’t they feel free back home? From this, Operation Amped was born. It has taken some hard work to set up, but Tom worked with some friends to raise the money to get the project off the ground, and has also gotten dozens of sponsors ‘on board’, including high profile spot companies like Billabong.
The kickoff event took place on August 10-12, with 20 amputee veterans sharing the waters with surfers from the Operation Amped team, which includes former world champions. The event was such a success that the program is having events in
