Wounded Marine Finishes Ride From San Diego to Iwo Jima on Hand Bike

Wounded Marine finishes ride across America
WUSA
Garrett W Haake
August 2, 2015

Toran Gaal finishes his cross country bike ride (Photo: WUSA9)

ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA9) -- A wounded Marine is getting some much-needed rest after a 63-day journey across America.

Toran Gaal set out from San Diego on a hand bike back in June and crossed the finish line at the Iwo Jima memorial Sunday morning.

Four years ago Gaal lost both of his legs to an IED in Afghanistan. He awoke two months later and began a very long journey and finished it with cheers and hugs from those who fought beside him in Afghanistan and back home.

"There's no words that you could even put in place to explain how proud anyone could be of Gaal right now," Rian Martinez, who served alongside Gaal in Afghanistan.

Back in June, Gaal set out across the country on his handbike- covering just a few miles an hour. He rode in daylight and darkness, across the plains of Kansas, and through Rocky mountain passes, traveling 3,800 miles on his journey.

The goal was to raise $40,000 dollars over the journey for the Semper Fi fund, the same organization that helped him get through his painful recovery.
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