Justin Widhalm, Sen. Michael Bennet and Hunter Kemper
/ FOX21
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A wounded warrior is showing a Colorado senator what dedication and spirit is all about in an effort to help other soldiers.
Wounded warrior and Paralympic hopeful Justin Widhalm and Olympian Hunter Kemper, both from Colorado Springs, took time out to meet with Sen. Michael Bennet Wednesday.
The group met to discuss the importance athletics plays to help ease the transition into civilian life for many injured soldiers exiting the service.
During Widhalm's second tour of duty in Iraq he fell 30 feet from a helicopter, breaking both feet, dislocating both knees, and breaking his back in three different places.
In a release Widhalm said through the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Carson, the USO's Ride2Recovery and the U.S. Paralympic Military Program, he began to find therapy in sports.
He now works with the Wounded Warrior Program as a manager for the USO in an effort to help other injured soldiers.
Hunter Kemper, who was also on hand to speak with Bennet about the cause, is a three time Olympic triathlete and was the first triathlete to be featured on a Wheaties box.
Widhalm is hoping to qualify in cycling and the biathlon for the 2012 Paralympic games in London.
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