Above are three simple ways you can donate to the #Road2Rio Campaign.

*USAB Donations are tax deductible.

I'm on a #Road2Rio journey to represent the United States at the 2016 Paralympic Games and accomplish a lifelong dream of winning GOLD in Para-Cycling! It's only with your support that I will be able to accomplish this dream. Learn more about this journey and how to easily donate at http://www.cdifferentwithaaron.com

Posted by Aaron Scheidies on Monday, June 8, 2015

I have achieved many goals in athletics and conquered many battles with the progressive loss of my vision, but there is one dream that still remains unsolved. That is to represent the United States and stand on top of the podium at the 2016 Paralympic Games. My #Road2Rio Campaign is a chance for each and every one of you to be a part of this dream.

My #Road2Rio is a journey - not a destination. There have already been bumps in the road but that hasn’t stopped me. In October 2014, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) made a very unexpected decision to cut the PT5 Blind Category in Triathlon for the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the first time triathlon is to be a sport in the Summer Games. This decision crushed my dream of becoming the first Paralympic gold medalist for the US ever in Paratriathlon.  This decision may have broken my heart and my spirit, but it never broke my drive to get to Rio. 

As a result of the IPC’s decision to exclude the PT5 Blind Category in Paratriathlon, I lost all funding from the USOC and nearly all my sponsors. I have been forced to pave my own road, a new road to Rio, and it will be through Para-Cycling. 

In order to make this dream possible, I will need to raise at least $50,000 through my #Road2Rio Campaign. Funding will go towards race entries, travel to races for both my guide and I, lodging, transportation, food, training, racing equipment, as well as setting up residence for my guide and I to live and train together so that we can execute the #Road2Rio Campaign and make our nation proud. 

Over the last 15 years, I have put forth a lot of time and energy into raising money and being a megaphone for organizations I believe in and becoming an ambassador for the blind/visually impaired community. My goal to be part of the US Paralympic Team and compete on the world stage will continue to show people that we are as able, capable and competitive.

Your support in my #Road2Rio Campaign is how I will accomplish this dream. Each and every person that supports me along the way plays an important part in helping me not only fulfill a lifelong dream, but also will inspire future of generations of Para-athletes in similar situations to follow their dreams.