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Aviation Community to Team Up with Wounded Veterans Participating in the Boston Marathon

Posted on: Thursday, 16 April 2009, 11:46 CDT

BOSTON, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 20th, six wounded veteran amputees, recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, will participate in the Boston Marathon as members of the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans. This year, Achilles International has teamed up with the business aviation community who will help facilitate this special event in their ongoing effort to give back to the community.

On Saturday, April 18th, the athletes, along with their companions and physical therapists, will be transported via private jet from Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC to Boston by volunteers from the Veterans Airlift Command. The Veterans Airlift Command provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. The same volunteer pilots will fly the athletes back to Washington, DC following the marathon.

Both the athletes and the volunteer pilots and crew (from Peregrine Jet) will be available to speak to the media upon their arrival at Logan International Airport to discuss this event.

Who: Peregrine Jet Crew Captain James Petosa Captain Francisco Garzon CSA Terri Campbell AMT Kevin Robbins Veterans Running the Boston Marathon Ryan Major of Towson, MD was critically injured in Iraq, losing both legs along with fingers on both hands. Sgt Army Matt Penland, is a double amputee, having survived an IED explosion in Iraq in October 2006 Staff Sergeant John W. Walding, United States (US) Army, lost his lower right leg by sniper fire in Afghanistan. Where: Signature Flight Support Boston Logan International Airport 240 Prescott Street East Boston, Massachusetts 02128 Phone: 617.561.2500 When: 1 PM Saturday, April 18th

About the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association

GAMA represents 66 of the world's leading manufacturers of fixed-wing general aviation airplanes, engines, avionics, and components

About the Veterans Airlift Command:

Since its inception in 2006, Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) pilot volunteers have carried over 1200 passengers and flown more than 670,000 miles.

About Achilles International:

Achilles International was founded in 1983 and its mission is to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to compete in mainstream athletic events with a focus on distance running.

SOURCE General Aviation Manufacturer?s Association

Source: PR Newswire

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