Boston Marathon bombing survivor to 'ride for angels' 5 years after losing leg

LAWRENCE, Mass. — This weekend, hundreds of cyclists will take part in a 20-mile charity bike ride in North Andover to benefit Ride for Angels.

It's an organization that transports patients and their families to medical care free of charge. 
One of those cyclists will be Boston Marathon bombing survivor Marc Fucarile.

It has been fire years since the bombing and he says he's doing this ride to help the organization that helped him and other survivors during their time of need.

Sitting on the tailgate of his pick-up truck outside Lawrence Municipal Airport, Marc Fucarile tried on cycling shoes Wednesday.

They are the shoes he will use with one of his prosthetics.

Fucarile lost his right leg in the Marathon Bombing, but he's not letting the tragedy stop him from attempting his next mission.

Since the bombing, Fucarile has been using a hand cycle, even competing in at least nine marathons, but this weekend he's going to be on an upright bike for the first time.%

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“I haven't done that since I lost my leg in 2013,” Fucarile explained.

And getting to this point hasn't been easy.

“With the inflammation in my shoulders and the wear and tear of my joints. I'm getting ready to mentally prepare myself to try,” he said.

He’s trying for an organization that's helped him and fellow bombing survivors in their time of need.

“I'm excited, anxious. It's for a great cause,” Fucarile said.

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Angel Flight provides free flights in private planes for patients who need access to medical care.

This is just one of the planes the organization uses to fly from state to state and the pilots are all volunteers.

“Angel Flight was able to fly some of the Boston Marathon Survivors to some important care that they needed,” event organizer Scott Havemeyer said.

Havemeyer is organizing the charity ride around North Andover. He says cyclists will bike 20 miles and four different routes.

Fucarile will take the same course.%

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“He stepped up right away and said that he would love to be involved,” Havemeyer said.

And after the first try with his shoe and special prosthetic leg Fucarile was on a bike Wednesday.

“It's amazing. Pretty good,” he told Boston 25 News as he rode. “Surprising that I was able to do it. Looking forward to doing 20 miles on Sunday.”

And with each pedal, Fucarile says he'll be thinking of the people who have helped him get this far.

“It allows me now to return the favor and give back the same way people gave to me,” he said.

The Ride for Angels charity event is Sunday, Sept. 9, and starts at 7 a.m. at the Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover.

The 20-mile race will start at 11 a.m.

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