Hector Manley, born and raised in a small village in El Salvador, was just 12 years old when he was severely injured during a 2001 earthquake. He suffered burns over 70% of his body, which eventually forced doctors to amputate both of his legs.

After four months in the hospital a group of Rotarians helped bring him to the United States for further medical treatment.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM7EiXiPNIY&feature=colike

Eleven years later Manley is giving back in a big way. He has recently graduated from the University of Tampa and is about to embark on kayaking trip down the Mississippi river. The trip will take him approximately 2,400 miles in 100 days. His trip will raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Wheelchair Foundation.

On his website http://www.paddlingforapurpose.org/, Hector sums up his views on life, “only your mentality can limit what you can accomplish.”

photo: screenshot from CarbbonMultimedia via youtube.com