In July 2014, a group of nine blind and disabled Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans embarked on a life altering experience to kayak the rapids of the Yellowstone River in Montana. Led by Lonnie Bedwell, a blind veteran himself and the first blind person to ever kayak the 226-mile stretch of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, these brave individuals made an investment in their future; in their dreams.
“The story of these men is truly inspiring,” said Dr. Scott Schumann DDS, of Grove City Dental, “by investing in the message of the film, I know it can help inspire others to go out and accomplish more than they thought they were capable of.”
Lonnie Bedwell, former Navy Petty Officer First Class, knows about such an investment. For twelve years, Lonnie refused VA hospital therapy and remained locked in the darkness of his mind, until one day his five year old daughter, Taylor, said to him, “Daddy, why don’t you cut the grass?” To which Lonnie replied, “Because I can’t”. Without hesitation, Taylor said, “I’ll help”. “I’ll help” has been Lonnie’s mantra ever since.
Nearly ten percent of all veterans are disabled from the service they so bravely render. Many individuals like Lonnie, producer Richard Seppala and Dr. Schumann, are making an investment that they hope will yield enormous returns for these disabled vets.
“I hope that I can show these vets, and any disabled person, that they should never give up on their dreams or give up on life”, says Lonnie.
With the help of Team River Runner™, a chapter of Disabled Sports USA, and filmmaker Jason Ross, founder of TSM Studios, Richard and Lonnie are producing a documentary film, “Vets on the River” of the Yellowstone River experience.
“Watching these guys progress and learn, and be scared and overcome their fears, was amazing,” said Ross. “They changed our lives.”
“I know that I need assistance and help at times, and that’s the way my life has changed, that’s the way it’s going to be,” said Eric Marts, an Army veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007, “but it doesn’t mean I can’t push that envelope and get the same exhilaration and rush out of life that everyone else does.”
About Dr. Scott Schumann, Grove City Dental
America’s PremierExperts® Cosmetic and Sedation dentist Dr. Scott Schumann is a celebrated 5 Time Best-Selling Author. He has featured chapters in Oral-Facial Emergencies, The 21 Principles of Smile Design, Shift Happens, Power Principles of Success. ROI Marketing Secrets Revealed, More Than a Mouthful, Game Changers the World’s Leading Entrepreneurs, How they’re Changing the Game & You Can Too! Dr. Schumann has been nominated for an EMMY Award, won a TELLY Award and has been quoted in USA Today, The Wall St. Journal, Newsweek. Scott has made guest appearances on radio and TV including the radio show the Next Big Thing® and America’s PremierExperts® TV show which airs on NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX TV.
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