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His 2001 ‘Round theWorld Challenge was an ambitious odyssey across four
continents in a vehicle customized to allow a quadriplegic to drive. Mike
took three years to plan an epic road trip in which he raised awareness
and funds for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment that took him to 110 cities
in 20 countries, totalling a 40,000 km trip. He raised $1.5million.
“In a moment, in a heartbeat, your life can change,” said actor and quad
activist Christopher Reeve, in the openingminutes of the documentary
about the trip. “And yet, you find when it changes that there are reserves
of strength, reserves of resourcefulness, reserves of energy that you can
call on to go forward… Nobody exemplifies that better thanMike.”
His skiing took him hors-piste inmountain ranges all over the world and
onto 18World Cup podiums over a decade-long career. Even after his
accident, he decided to try to break the world toboggan speed record at
Les Arcs in France in 1987. He managed only to delight onlookers and look
badass in a gold speeder.
Shortly after his accident, Barbara Broccoli—the daughter of the James
Bond producer Arthur R. “Cubby” Broccoli and a friend of Mike’s—started
a trust to helpMike. After accumulating about £100,000, Mike decided he
had enough and wanted to give back. He started the Back Up Trust Fund
to help downed athletes with SCI get back to sports.
“There’s nothing you can’t do, with the right resources. Water-skiing, sit-
skiing, even adaptive-sailing,” he adds. “It has helped somuch, somuch,
not just physically but mentally, to have this support system. A lifeline.”
It’s another lesson he learned on water skis: even through the choppiest
waters you never let go of that rope.
“There’snothingyou can’t do,with the right
resources.”
TOP
Mike in StanmoreHospital, London,UK, 1985.
COURTESYMIKENEMESVARY.
MIDDLE
Mule kick inMeribel, France, 1983. MARK JUNAK.
BOTTOM
Mike's post-accident
toboggan speed record attempt, LesArcs, France, 1987.
COURTESYMIKENEMESVARY
