This is just a business trip for Rob Jones: Welcome to Tucson, goodbye Tucson. In and out.
And for Jones, that business is life.
He’ll be in town for Tucson Medical Center El Tour de Tucson, riding 104 miles on behalf of the Coalition to Support America’s Heroes, a charity organization that assists wounded veterans.
Jones is one himself. Five years ago, an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan claimed both of Jones’ legs above the knee. Jones was faced with a quick decision: Perish or persevere.
Lying in his hospital bed, Jones clung desperately to hope. Then he reached for something else.
“I was doing pullups on my triangle bar in the hospital bed,” Jones said. “That might be a little abnormal, but I think it has a lot to do with my own personality. Maybe I have some kind of psychological anomaly that let me process it quicker.”
The five stages of grief passed quickly for Jones. He had things to do.
He joined the Marines in 2006, deploying to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2010. His primary duty, he says, was locating IEDs. Then he stepped on one.
Life changed in an instant, but Jones only became more emboldened. He focused more on his fitness, and began training for the 2012 Paralympics in rowing. He won the bronze medal.
“If you have the right attitude, everybody could be strengthened by any kind of stressor thrown their way,” he said. “Traumatic event, breakup, whatever — if you have the right attitude, you only become stronger.”
After receiving assistance from the coalition to, yes, get back on his feet, Jones ventured to do more than ever. He said he was “feeling responsible for repaying the kindness I’ve received.”
This is a pay-it-forward thing. He was helped at his greatest time of need, and now he seeks to help others in theirs. El Tour won’t be the first time he’s taken to the roads to raise money for the coalition.
In April 2014, Jones biked across the country — a six-month, 5,200-mile trek — to support the cause and others like it.
“When I’m training for a sport, it’s just for me,” Jones said. “You’re training to represent your country, as well, but you’re kind of doing it just for you. Raising money for the charity — I’m still gonna enjoy myself — but at least it’s something I’m doing for more than just me.”
Right now, he’s training and living in Salt Lake City, hoping to make the 2016 Paralympics, this time in the triathlon. He has broken his regular training schedule to prepare for El Tour.
For a double-amputee, this is no simple joy ride.
“It’s going to be a big challenge,” said Jones, who will participate in El Tour along with fellow wounded vets Bryan Kelsey and Jorge De Leon. “To be perfectly honest, I’ll be flirting with 10 hours. I’m pretty slow on a road bike, haven’t been training for a 100-mile ride like this.
“But I’m going to do it to help out the coalition.”
