A Ticket to Ride
Robert (Rob) Kelly
Retired Navy demolition diver and QL+ challenger
Santa Maria, California
January 2010
“QL+ and these Cal Poly students are involved in activities that are life-changing. I am so excited working with these young people and their brilliant minds.”
Since January 1990 former U.S. Navy diver Robert (Rob) T. Kelly Jr., of Santa Maria, California, has endured 26 surgeries, including six hip replacements.
The procedures are part of a process to try to correct the four-inch length differential between his right and left legs. While serving in Operation Just Cause—the U.S. military invasion of Panama—Mr. Kelly developed a rare case of decompression sickness, more commonly known as “the bends”, which ultimately caused his physical condition. It has been devastating for the 24-year veteran demolition diver, who previously competed in 100-mile century rides, triathlons and marathons.
Today Mr. Kelly, 52, participates in charity cycling events using a specially outfitted recumbent bicycle. However, “there are all sorts of problems with the bike”, he tells QL+. The issues range from the pedal and chain, to the crank arm, which does not properly accommodate the different lengths of his legs.
Mr. Kelly learned about QL+ at a National Disability Employment Awareness Month conference in the Los Angeles area. He visited the QL+ booth and learned about the potential for Cal Poly College of Engineering students to adapt his recumbent bicycle to his own specific requirements. Mr. Kelly promptly submitted his challenge to QL+ through the organization’s Web site. He was then invited to Cal Poly to discuss his case. After the athlete demonstrated his bicycle’s shortcomings by riding it down the aisle, QL+ approved his engineering challenge.
“I thought my bicycle could be engineered so much better,” Mr. Kelly said. “I left my bike [at Cal Poly]. I encouraged them to ride it to feel what I felt and better understand the difficulties I was having. The students saw all of the problems that I was having, but they also found other things that they could enhance for me. And they really took into account the 26 surgeries I have had to try to make riding as comfortable as possible.”
“I have been promoting veterans organizations for years,” said Mr. Kelly, who serves as the second chairman of the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Hospital Executive Volunteer Board, in addition to leadership positions in California with Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Killed in Action/Died of Wounds (KDOW) and Sons of the American Legion. “QL+ and these students are involved in activities that are life-changing,” Mr. Kelly said. “I am so excited working with these young people and their brilliant minds.”