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By Miriam Raftery

Hermes Castro with Sir Robert Swan, polar explorer who has invited Castro on his Antarctic expedition

Antarctica

January 7, 2008 (Fallbrook) — Invited by a famous polar explorer to join an Antarctic expedition in March, Hermes Castro and his fellow students at Mesa College are raising funds for transportation and special equipment to help him fulfill his dream. But Castro has already come a long way since September 2006, when he was struck head-on by a drunk-driver in Bonsall while riding his bicycle to work in Fallbrook--tragedy that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

"After he hit me, his truck hit a bunch of hay bales. Some of them fell on me," recalled Castro, a former triathlon, marathon runner and physical trainer. "I was dragged quite a way and I did have a stroke at the scene."

Fortunately for Castro, two veterans witnessed the accident and rushed to his aid. "They said it was worse than anything they'd seen in Iraq," Castro recalled. "I couldn't see them because I was so bloody." Castro suffered two broken legs, a dislocated shoulder, and worse--incomplete fractures of two vertebrae, leaving him a paraplegic.

"You've definitely got to keep moving," Castro said. His indomitable spirit and positive outlook have helped him rise above hardships and aspire to lofty goals. Within weeks after the accident, he talked his doctors into allowing him to go skiing on a mono-ski. He built up his upper body strength to power a hand-cycle and has regained some feeling in his legs--enough to pedal a stationary bicycle, despite doctor's predictions that he will never walk again. Castro remains hopeful--but isn't letting life leave him sidelined just because he's in a wheelchair.

Paraplegic Hermes Castro of Fallbrook skiing on a monoski

Now a geology major with emphasis in hydrology at Mesa College, Castro caught the attention of Sir Robert Swan, the polar explorer made famous for being the only person in the world to walk across both the North and South poles. View a video of Swan by clicking here and scrolling down:www.2041.com/antarctic-expeditions. The feat will likely never be repeated, due to melting of polar ice fueled by global climate change.

Inspired by Castro's courage, Swan invited the paraplegic student to accompany him on Inspire Antarctic Expedition in March. "He wants me to go on his expedition and in return, bring back knowledge to our schools--talk to them about the polar caps, global warming and natural energy. Sir Swan has a room in Antaractica that is all powered by natural energy," Castro told East County Magazine.

Swan is also credited with discovering the hole in the ozone--and sounding a global alarm. "When he was walking across the South Pole, the ice started melting. He had to speed up the pace," Castro said. "When they finished the mission, their faces were sunburnt, their eyes were burnt...When he went back, he found a hole in the ozone."

The explorer generously offered to cover Castro's fees and expenses during the expedition. Past trips have included leaders of corporations and environmental groups as well as teachers and students. But Castro needs funds for travel costs and special gear for the extreme cold weather.

"I need $10,000 by mid-March, otherwise I'm going to be borrowing a whole bunch of clothes," quipped Castro, whose fellow students hosted a pizza fundraiser that netted $300. Private and corporate donors have also pledged support, but he still has a long path to climb.

He is determined to go, despite concerns raised by his physicians. "They asked, `How will you get in the boat, get up and down stairs when the boat is moving," Castro said. Sir Robert Swan said the doctors should help me learn to manage how to get around, not set up barriers. He's promised to have three people assigned to me 24/7. That includes my wife, Sara."

The drunk driver who injured Castro is in prison. Over time, Castro has grown forgiving in his outlook, after learning that the man was going through severe personal problems at the time. Ultimately, he hopes to see the driver released and perhaps able to work and contribute to help cover Castro's ongoing medical costs.

He drives a specially-equipped Cadillac now and has received a grant from the Challenge Athletes Foundation. He also serves on the board of the Adaptive Sports Foundation, helping provide practical information on rehabilitation options as well as inspire others facing similar challenges. "I have a friend, he's 18, in Fallbrook who just got paralyzed...I'm trying to get him into basketball," said Castro, who wants to help disabled people move beyond depression and attain their maximum potential.

Castro still faces challenges. He needs a wheelchair with bigger wheels, and he battles pain from his injuries on a daily basis. But he concludes optimistically, "I'm still fighting."

Details and future fundraising efforts will be posted at www.hermescastro.com and www.sdmesa.edu, where financial contributions are also accepted. Castro also hopes to write a blog from Antarctica chronicling his adventure. For more information, call 619-388-2699.