Amputee Transcontinental Bike Ride Arrives at HealthSouth
7/13/2011
Amputees Across America, a group of amputees making a transcontinental bike ride
for the 10th consecutive year, will arrive at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota at 10 a.m. on
July 20, 2011.A welcome reception will be held in honor of the cyclists who are riding in relays across the
United States and visiting hospitals to increase public awareness of amputees as people with active
lifestyles.
While in Sarasota, Amputees Across America members Joe Sapere, Abel Cruz, Boston Bill Hanbury, Jeff
Martin, Joe Sapere and Doc Milligan, will visit HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota patients
and members of the local amputee support group to share stories of overcoming their amputation to live
healthy, fulfilling lives. The hospital also will celebrate with the riders visiting with staff and former
patients, and a proclamation for Amputees Across America Day from a representative from the mayor’s
office. The event is open to the community.
“We are delighted to host Amputees Across America at our hospital and celebrate the group’s 10 year
anniversary,” says Marcus Braz, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota’s chief executive officer.
“Our hospital strives to provide a higher level of rehabilitative care to amputee patients. This visit provides
an excellent opportunity for those patients as well as those in the community to see that a physical
disability should not keep anyone from living an active lifestyle.”
This is the 10th year anniversary of the AAA cross-country journey. The riders departed on June 1, 2011,
from HealthSouth Tustin Rehabilitation Hospital in California. To reach their final destination at
HealthSouth Treasure Coast Rehabilitation Hospital in Vero Beach, Fla., on July 22, 2011, the group will
travel 3,500 miles and stop at 19 HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals in less than 60 days. For more
information about this year’s journey and the riders who make it possible, visit
www.healthsouthsarasota.com.
About HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota is a86-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital that offers
comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. Serving patients throughout southwest
Florida, the hospital is located at 6400 Edgelake Drive and on the Web at www.healthsouthsarasota.com.
About HealthSouth
HealthSouth is the nation’s largest provider of inpatient rehabilitative healthcare services. Operating in 26
states across the country and in Puerto Rico, HealthSouth serves patients through its network of inpatient
rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation satellite clinics and home
health agencies. HealthSouth’s hospitals provide a higher level of rehabilitative care to patients who are
recovering from conditions such as stroke and other neurological disorders, orthopedic, cardiac and
pulmonary conditions, brain and spinal cord injury, and amputations. HealthSouth can be found on the Web
at www.healthsouth.com.
Source: HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota