Mike Reeder

 

In Memorial of Mike Reeder

Sport: 

Golfing

Biography:

Mike was born and raised in the Mid-West. He came from a musical family and dreamed of having a career as a jazz musician. In high school he and his band gained local notoriety by playing in establishments across Missouri and Kansas. At age 20 Mike joined the Navy and deployed to Vietnam, serving with the Marines as a corpsman. On April 2, 1970, Mike lost both legs just below the knee to an enemy command detonated mine. After recovering from his wounds at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, CA Mike reentered the music business as a recording engineer and producer and worked with the likes of Rod Stewart, Herbie Hancock and Carlos Santana.

In 1988, Mike began playing wheelchair golf and has since participated in a number of local, regional, and national amputee golf tournaments. Within a few years of starting his golf play, Mike designed the “Forewheel” Golf Wheelchair and has recently written a book about his life experience titled “From Where I Sit”. Mike and his wife Debby live in Tennessee and have three children who are very supportive of their dad’s efforts.

In 2009, Mike applied for a CAF Operation Rebound grant to help send him to Scotland to fulfill his dream of playing the prestigious and historical golf course. Inspired by Mike’s story, as well as his ambition and contributions to amputee golf, the Challenged Athletes Foundation approved the grant to send Mike to Scotland in 2010 and play the Old Course, St. Andrews Links.

“There are not enough ways or words for me to say thank you to CAF Operation Rebound for allowing me to live my dream of golfing at St. Andrews . I owe it all to CAF.”-Mike Reeder

How Does Operation Rebound Help?

Operation Rebound provides unparalleled sports opportunities and support to our troops and veterans of any branch of service and first responders who have served honorably and have suffered permanent physical injuries. Grants are awarded for event travel, lodging, entry fees, training and equipment.

How Can You Help?

Make a tax-deductible contribution to Challenged Athletes, Inc., (dba Challenged Athletes Foundation) a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization. To make a donation, please call (858) 866-0959, send a check to the address listed below, or make a secure payment through our website: www.challengedathletes.org.