On March 22, 2003, Romanian paraplegic athlete Vasile Stoica will attempt to become the first person to travel Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago by manual wheelchair. He is undertaking this amazing 66-day feat to raise awareness for disability issues in his home country as well as help gather funds for the Romanian nonprofit Association for the Physically Disabled of Lugoj (AHF Lugoj), which recently lost its central headquarters and one of his friends, Costica Bardan, to a fire. Any contributions he raises will go toward the purchase of a new building, as well as replace computers and medical and sports equipment lost in the blaze.
Stoica's goal is to travel Route 66 in 66 days, covering 5-7 miles per hour, which will allow him to spend a little time visiting local communities, disability organizations, and others en route to help fuel attention, understanding, and sponsorship toward his cause. He has been a member of AHF Lugoj for many years and was devastated by the loss of his friend and the association's building in the fire. AHF Lugoj was created on January 1, 1990, becoming the first disability organization to exist in Romania, as they were not permitted during Ceausescu's reign.
Stoica is well known for facing amazing challenges. In October 2001, he beat a world record for going the farthest distance in a wheelchair in 24 hours, covering 82 miles at the College of the Canyons sports track in Valencia, CA. Stoica's world record was captured in an episode of Broken Wings, a documentary series on people with disabilities being distributed by Chip Taylor Communications. In 1999, he became the first Romanian to travel around the world by manual wheelchair, crossing parts of Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia, North Africa, Turkey, and Bulgaria, powered only by his hands. As with all his trips, Stoica will be traveling the road alone, without any personal or medical support.
'I have always traveled by myself, carrying everything in a bag on my wheelchair,' says Stoica. 'Fortunately, people are always very helpful and offer me meals and lodging along the way. Of course I would like a good sponsor, but I plan to do this trip with or without money to begin it.'
In fact, Vasile embarked on his world tour with less than $500 in his pocket, yet with the support from new friends and the Romanian community, managed to achieve his goal. Prior to his world tour, he crossed Europe several times by wheelchair, resulting in a warm welcome at the Ellysse Palace by Mrs. Danielle Mitterand. Vasile has faced all of these challenges with minimal sponsorship and hopes to raise more sponsors, donations, and volunteers for this event.
Stoica was born in 1970 to a poor family of seven children. He spent his first seven years in a hospital undergoing 13 unsuccessful operations then spent his remaining childhood at a special school for children with disabilities. The school had few facilities and, like the other children, Vasile had to crawl for lack of wheelchairs. When he was 14 he received his first chair and a few years later attended an art college in Lugoj. As an artist, he has taken part in numerous exhibitions around the world.
Stoica is encouraging others with or without disabilities to join him for portions of his Route 66 Tour. More information about Stoica's remarkable trip can be found at http://www.geocities.com/vasile_stoica/66.htm
Submitted by: Vasile Stoica: vasile_stoica@yahoo.com