TOUGH MUDDER MOST RESPECT AWARDS

At TMHQ we recognize that there will be some participants for whom the completion of a Tough Mudder race is an extraordinary feat and a milestone in their life, perhaps on account of their ability to bounce-back from serious illness, injury or misfortune. We also recognize those upstanding citizens who deserve to be celebrated.

This is why TMHQ is asking you to nominate your teammates, friends or significant others for our Most Respect Awards, as a badge of honor in recognition of their participation in Tough Mudder events.

TIM TURNER

Tim Turner has been training for Tough Mudder Tri-State by running 6-8 miles 3 or 4 times a week and doing intense weight training the other days. This would be challenging enough for most people, but it’s especially impressive when you consider the wear and tear that Tim suffered as a Marine in his 2 deployments to Iraq and 1 to Afghanistan over the past four years.

His battalion lost lost fourteen men in his first deployment and twelve on his third. The adjustment back to civilian life was difficult. Then add on the PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, compressed disks in his back, and numerous other injuries. “It hurts nonstop, pretty much,” Tim told us.

But he hasn’t let this hold him back. Sure, “it’s been hard exercising. It was slow going at first,” and doctors told him he would never be able to run the way he used to. “But I don’t like having limitations on myself.” Now he’s training hard, going to school, and finding the time to raise money for Mom 4R Marines, a nonprofit group that supported Tim—as well as many other servicemen and women—throughout his deployments. Mom 4R Marines “started out as a parent organization for our battalion to keep mothers and wives informed and supported. This soon became the model for parent networks across the entire Marine Corps.”

“I was going to run a marathon,” Tim said, “but marathons are pretty boring. I just googled ‘Toughest Race in America,’ and Tough Mudder popped up.” Tim is part of a team of ten, The Apocalypse Now Syndrome, and we’re looking forward to meeting them and hanging out at the post-party.

THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT
We are offering a collective Most Respect Awards to some the members of the Wounded Warrior Project who are coming out to our event on May 2nd. We truly admire these guys, and we are so excited that they will be there at Bear Creek.

AARON & KEVIN KING

AARON KING

In 2003, Aaron (on the right in the photo) was stationed in Iraq. One night, he was riding in a truck that got hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade. He said of the explosion, “I remember seeing this big flash and thinking to myself ‘why is someone taking a picture of us at night? It won’t show up.’ Then I realized it’s an RPG, and time just slowed down for me.”

Life wasn’t easy when he returned. In the hospital, doctors had told him he would never walk again. He was 21 years old. It took him a year and a half of practicing for three hours a day, five days a week—and listening to a lot of Tim McGraw for inspiration—but “I pushed myself and pushed myself until I was able to walk again.”

It was his brother Kevin who told him about the Wounded Warrior Project. Both brothers are actively involved with the WWP. What has meant the most to Aaron is WWP’s support of his passion for wrestling. “The wounded warriors are going to be there for my debut.” We are in awe of how far Aaron has come.

KEVIN KING JR

Kevin (on the left in the photo) told Aaron about the Wounded Warrior Project, but it was Aaron’s experience that had inspired him to enlist. When Aaron was injured and finally able to call home, Kevin told him his plans. “I asked him if he was sitting down, and he said he was, and I said I was joining the military. I was inspired by what he did—after he sustained all his injuries, it didn’t scare me. It just motivated me. It was my time to do service. But then I got injured almost the exact identical way my brother was injured.”

When Kevin came home, the transition wasn’t easy. “It’s hard to find supporters of what we did over there,” he said. Because of this, Kevin and his brother avoided interacting with others. “It took me about three or four months after I got back before I went out to a bar or a place where it’s really busy. That’s why I got involved with the Wounded Warrior Project—to interact with more supporters and fellow disabled veterans. We can talk about anything and have each other’s backs and clear our minds from the nonsense. We can move on with our lives.”

“I wasn’t really sure what was out there to help veterans get back into normal life and enjoy activities.” But he became involved when he saw a flyer. “It’s a way to interact with more veterans and spread the awareness. The war related injuries put a damper on your normal way of life, and at home it’s hard to find supporters of what we did there. The Wounded Warrior Project does a lot to show you how much support is out there. It helps us transition back to civilian life and help us not think everyone is against us—which is how it feels when you first get back.” We couldn’t ever narrow it down to a single reason we are giving these awards, but we are particularly impressed by the way Kevin overcame his initially difficult transition to life at home. He and Aaron have both demonstrated an incredible will to triumph over seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

DAVID GREELEY

David Greeley became involved with the Wounded Warrior Project quite recently. We are thrilled that Tough Mudder NY&PA will be his first WWP event. He injured his left soldier and suffered severe hearing loss in Iraq in 2006.

David explained to us the profound difference the Wounded Warrior Project is making. “This is my fourth deployment, and it’s totally different from any other time, and The Wounded Warrior Project is one of the biggest reasons things have changed so much” he said. “Everything seems to be geared towards taking care of people instead of pushing them out the door—The Wounded Warrior Project is one of the biggest groups saying you have a responsibility to take care of these people.”

PAUL ROSADO

In 2001, Paul decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and join the military. He was sent to Iraq in 2004, where was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge for his service. He suffered numerous injuries on more than one occasion—but it wasn’t until later that he realized the effects. “We had a great unit and we were all so focused—you just shake it off. It’s like if you got a concussion playing football. You go back to work. Unfortunately, that happened numerous times, and it takes an effect.”

When he got home, Paul saw a flyer for the Wounded Warrior Project at the hospital where he did his occupational therapy. He went home, found their website, and signed up. “Within an hour there was immediate contact with people who were just like me. They had the same issues—it was nice to be able to find somebody you could relate to.” Paul has appreciated how Wounded Warrior Project representatives and alumni contact him to see if there’s anything they can help him with. “From dealing with the V.A. to a personal thing, they really take the time to talk to you. It’s really nice, because you don’t get that with other organizations. You don’t get that one-on-one interaction.”

SCOTT HUGHES

Scott Hughes told his team he was signing them up for Tough Mudder just a few weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his head and neck. His friends initially thought he was joking. When we heard his story, we knew he was Most Respect material.

After serving for 13 years as an Army Ranger—which included fighting in Desert Storm—he went on to earn his Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees and is currently finishing his PhD. He is also in a pre-med program and hopes to get involved in cancer research. His friend and Inglorious Educatures teammate John Simone said, “He’s always improving himself, and, as a result, those around him. He’s a natural leader, a dependable friend, a lightning rod of integrity, and, at times, a fearsomely annoying prankster.”

“To be honest, it seems crazy” Scott said, “But it’s a cause I believe in. The Wounded Warrior Project helped me, and it’s one of the best organizations out there.” After being injured in Somalia, Scott was hospitalized for three months. During that time, members of The Wounded Warrior Project “would come by with words of inspiration and give me a pat on the back and help with my rehabilitations.”

Scott has come a long way since his surgery only one month ago. He was back in the office at Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey within a week and a half. Then he went snowboarding. “We don’t honestly know why he signed up for the Tough Mudder,” John said. “We think he’s insane. And we don’t know why we’re blindly following him into it, but we think it’s concrete proof that he’s a great leader, a great guy, and has earned all of our respect.” He’s earned Tough Mudder’s respect as well.

JOSH MILLER

Josh Miller was a US Marine and PA State trooper who was killed on June 7, 2009, while helping to rescue a child who had been kidnapped at gunpoint by his own father. We have enormous respect for Josh, as well as for Team 8819, named for Josh’s badge number. The team, organized to honor Josh, has over 50 people participating on May 2nd.

One of the members of Team 8819, Greg Emery, said of Josh, “He embraced challenges, rather than avoid them. There is no doubt in my mind that the will be running next to us on may 2nd. He was a Tough Mudder, and we miss him.” For truly being what Tough Mudder is all about, we want to salute Josh Miller on May 2nd with a Tough Mudder Most Respect Award.

KEVIN MCCLOSKEY

Tough Mudder is, of course, about fun, fire, and beer. But it’s also a lot about friendship, camaraderie, and doing more than you thought possible. Kevin McCloskey truly exemplifies these things, and we are giving him a Tough Mudder Most Respect Award. He was injured in June, 2007 while serving in Afghanistan, and his friends have put a team together to show him their support and admiration.

Kevin was driving in Logar, near Kabul, when a roadside bomb exploded, breaking Kevin’s wrist, arm, pelvis, and collarbone. Shrapnel from the explosion blinded him in one eye. He received second-degree burns on his face, thigh, and chest. Doctors were forced to amputate both legs.

The Wounded Warrior Project has since played an integral role in Kevin’s life. His friend Alex (pictured here with Kevin), put the team together to participate on May 2nd. He said, “We’re from the inner city of Philadelphia. There’s nothing here that has to do with army bases. But The Wounded Warrior Project really took care of him. Every day they would send him stuff to keep him busy and make him feel that he was appreciated.” People from all over the country write to Kevin to give him encouragement. They send movies and blankets they’ve made him. “I’ve never seen anything like that,” Alex said. “I was amazed.”

Kevin has made incredible progress, and we’re so happy that he will be there on May 2nd to watch Alex and his North Boys teammates raise money for The Wounded Warrior Project.

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If you know someone participating in Tough Mudder NY&PA on May 2 who deserves a Most Respect Award, please email us.