Wounded Marine Sgt. Overcomes Severe Injuries to Run 100 Mile Ultramarathon as a Tribute to Fallen and Wounded Troops and Special Operations Warrior Foundation

    TAMPA, FL, May 15, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Former Special Operations Marine Sgt. Keith Zeier is one of hundreds of runners competing in this weekend's Keys-100 ultramarathon, but what makes this 23-year old Brooklyn resident different from other runners is that he was severely wounded in Iraq only three years ago and was told he would never walk again without the aid of a crutch or cane.

In July 2006, Zeier was deployed with the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion when his military vehicle was ambushed by an improvised explosive device explosion which tore through the vehicle.

The explosion inflicted severe muscle and nerve damage to Zeier's left leg and severe head injuries. Hospitalized at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center for more than a year for treatment and intense rehabilitation, doctors' prognosis was grim and the severity of his injuries meant the end of his career with the Marines and Force Recon.

But Zeier refused to accept the fate handed to him and through his own sheer determination and perseverence, he has rehabilitated himself so today he is able to compete in a 100-mile ultramarathon as a tribute to fellow Marines who lost their lives in combat and the Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman who helped save his life and the lives of so many others while risking their own lives in the heat of battle.

On May 16, Zeier will run a 100-mile footrace from Key Largo to Key West, Fla. to raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (www.specialops.org), a non-profit organization that supports the men and women of the military's Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations community. The foundation provides college educations to the surviving children of fallen special operations personnel and also immediate financial assistance to special operators who are severely injured allowing their loved ones to travel and be bedside during their recovery.

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation was able to help Zeier's mother, Denise, travel to Bethesda Naval Hospital to be with her son.

With an athletic background that includes marathons and a 50-mile race, Zeier says he is ready for this weekend's race.

"I know it's possible and it's going to take a lot of gutting it out, but I know I can do it without a doubt," he said. "The constant and severe pain that I suffer in my leg serves now as a reminder of those great men with whom I've served and befriended. Not to mention those who have laid down their life in defense of this country. I am running this race in honor of them and the job that we loved to do. Not a day passes that I do not think of the sacrifices they have made and how it has impacted their families, friends, and loved ones. There's no doubt in my mind that I'll finish."

To support Zeier's efforts, you can make a donation online at www.firstgiving.com/keys100 and 100 percent of all proceeds go directly to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a four-star rated charity.

About Special Ops Warrior Foundation

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is a four-star rated non-profit organization that provides full college educations to the surviving children of fallen Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel. The foundation also provides immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations troops so their loved ones can be bedside during their recovery. For further information, please contact us at (813) 805-9400.

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