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Freedom Restored: Marine Veteran Receives Adaptive Pickup from Recycled Rides Program

Marine veteran Ryan Zimmerer, whose life was altered by a devastating training accident, has regained his freedom to access the outdoors thanks to the Recycled Rides program. Zimmerer, who suffered extensive injuries including the eventual amputation of both legs, received a specially modified GMC Sierra truck during a Veterans Day ceremony in Plano, Texas. This adaptive vehicle, gifted through the Recycled Rides program, will allow him to reconnect with his passion for hunting and fishing alongside his sons.

A Life-Changing Injury

Ryan Zimmerer, 38, was a member of the US Marine Corps. In February 2009, he fell 50 feet from a helicopter onto the deck of an aircraft carrier during a training exercise, suffering a traumatic brain injury and severe injuries to his ankles, hip, and tailbone. After 16 surgeries, his long road to recovery led to the amputation of both legs, and he was medically retired in 2010.

Despite his injuries and ongoing surgeries (10 in the past year alone), Zimmerer never lost his love for the outdoors. However, his mobility issues limited his ability to take his sons, Kane (16) and Warren (13), to new hunting and fishing areas.

How the Recycled Rides Program Restored Freedom

The Recycled Rides program, organized by the National Auto Body Council (NABC), solves the mobility challenge for veterans facing physical challenges.

The Program: The Recycled Rides program provides vehicles (donated by insurers like Geico, Allstate, Farmers, Mercury, and Liberty Mutual) to veterans selected by numerous veterans groups.
The Vehicle: Zimmerer received a GMC Sierra truck outfitted with crucial adaptive equipment:
- Hand controls for the accelerator and brakes.
- A lift system for the truck bed.
The Impact: The lift system is critical, as it enables Zimmerer to load his 500-pound tracked mobility chair into the truck without assistance. This chair is designed to go off-road, over rocks, and up steep slopes.
Zimmerer’s Words: “Just getting places to hunt and fish with my sons has been a challenge,” Zimmerer said. “This truck will make things so much easier. We can get the track chair into better places and will be able to experience so much more of the wilderness. It’s going to make a big difference in our family’s life.”

Zimmerer was one of 16 Texas veterans who received vehicles during the ceremony, a testament to the Recycled Rides program’s commitment to honoring and supporting those who have served.

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