226 Miles
How I Became the First Blind
Person to Kayak the
Grand Canyon
.
College graduate and US Navy veteran Lonnie Bedwell tells his true story. He shares about growing up in rural southern Indiana, earning a degree in robotics, and serving in the US Navy. After becoming a father of three, he lost his sight in a nearly fatal hunting accident. He relearned what were once routine life skills and moved forward as a carpenter and single dad. When his youngest daughter graduated from high school he reached out to the Veterans Administration’s Central Blind Rehabilitation Center in Chicago for help learning more nuanced independent living skills. The program and the personal connections he made there led to involvement with Team River Runner, and ultimately becoming the first blind person to solo kayak through the Grand Canyon. This second edition includes the reaction to the book. He has had numerous media appearances and been the subject of several documentaries. He is a popular motivational speaker and is passionate about helping veterans and children.
