“I was angry, bitter, and felt like I was dead, but somehow I was living,” Lance Weir recalls of the years following the accident that changed his life forever. At just 21, the former Marine Corps Reservist and football star was on a canoe trip when he leaned over to retrieve a drifting baseball cap. In an instant, his head struck a submerged rock, shattering his C5 vertebrae and leaving him a quadriplegic.

Life After Injury: The Dark Years

Returning home to his small Arkansas town, Lance faced a harsh reality: limited resources, no access to adaptive sports, and little hope for an active future. He fell into depression, battled addiction, and struggled with thoughts of suicide. “There was no light at the end of the tunnel at the time,” he says.

For 15 years, Lance lived with that darkness—until two turning points set him on a new path: first, being matched with his service dog, Satine, and second, meeting Marine Major Nico Marcolongo at a service dog graduation event in 2008. Nico, then leading CAF’s Operation Rebound program for injured veterans and first responders, recognized Lance’s potential and encouraged him to explore adaptive sports.

Discovering Sport and Reclaiming Life

With Nico’s mentorship and CAF’s support, Lance found shooting sports—particularly air rifle shooting. Despite being a high-level quadriplegic, he not only learned to compete but thrived. Lance joined the National Team, earned eight gold medals at the Marine Corps Trials and Warrior Games, and was identified as a Paralympic hopeful.

But Lance wasn’t done testing his limits. In 2011, he attended CAF’s Million Dollar Challenge (MDC)—a 620-mile ride down California’s coast—as a spectator. Watching others push themselves inspired him to return the next year as a cyclist.

Engineering a New Way to Ride

Because of Lance’s injury level, a traditional handcycle wouldn’t work. A team of engineers, fabricators, and dedicated friends came together to build a custom tandem recumbent handcycle, allowing an able-bodied captain to steer while Lance powered through the ride. Known as Team Chase, these teammates not only rode alongside him but also pushed him up the toughest hills using a specialized roll bar.

That first custom trike carried Lance through seven Million Dollar Challenges and countless endurance events, including the grueling Silver State 508. Over time, it showed its age—frequent breakdowns and warped materials from thousands of miles on the road.

Determined to go further, Lance’s team designed a new state-of-the-art handcycle. With titanium and carbon craftsmanship, aerospace-level engineering, and over $100,000 of donated labor, this trike could reach 60–70 mph, withstand heavy loads, and handle daily rides without breaking down. Bill Walton, NBA legend and CAF supporter, called the unveiling “the best of humanity—honor, sacrifice, discipline, team, passion, purpose.”

Breaking Barriers and Making History

With his new handcycle, Lance achieved milestones few thought possible:

Seven Million Dollar Challenge finishes covering over 4,000 cumulative miles.

World record holder as the first quadriplegic to cycle over 200 miles on a recumbent adaptive tandem bike.

First tandem handcycle to finish an IRONMAN® triathlon.

These achievements demonstrate not overcoming his physical condition but embracing adaptive sport and teamwork to redefine what’s possible.

Teamwork, Community, and a New Outlook

Through sport, Lance gained more than medals—he found camaraderie, purpose, and joy. “The connection of sport has enriched my life in ways I never thought possible,” he shares. Every ride represents personal growth and a testament to resilience fueled by teamwork.

Jose Doval, one of the engineers on his team, puts it best:

“The camaraderie, joy, and friendship change everything. It brings individuals with disabilities into the team and society again.”

Today, Lance continues to train, inspire others, and represent CAF’s mission to empower individuals through adaptive sports. From air rifle shooting to endurance cycling, he proves that a life-altering injury doesn’t end your journey—it transforms it.

Join the Movement

CAF’s Operation Rebound helps injured veterans and first responders like Lance rediscover strength and purpose through sport. Your support provides the adaptive equipment, mentorship, and opportunities needed to make life-changing journeys possible.