Testimonial of Mary Thompson

"I appreciate the support these garments provide. They are essential for my racing and personal independence. They support my back and help me breathe efficiently. Above all, I appreciate the confidence they give me in road racing marathons and competitions."

--Mary Thompson, Wheelchair Marathon Winner and User of Freeman Back Supports

The story of Mary Thompson is marked by high achievement. Her path to success began on an icy stretch of road in her home state of Iowa. At the age of 21, a car accident left Mary paralyzed from the chest down. Following rehabilitation, her resolve to make a new life prompted a move from Iowa to sunny California, now homebase for an active lifestyle of competitive wheelchair racing.

Having raced in over 90 wheelchair marathons, Mary holds the world record for the female quadriplegic division. She is the winner of three consecutive first place finishes in the female quad division of the Boston Marathon and is the first woman to complete the 367 mile Midnight Sun Ultra Marathon from Fairbanks to Anchorage, Alaska. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Mary won a bronze medal as a member of the U.S. Paralympic Track Team, and as a member of the Atlanta Paralympic Games, Mary competes in teh 200- and the 400-meter events and the marathon.

When Mary is not rubbing shoulders with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Junior Seau at the Greater San Diego Inner-City Games Celebration, you'll find her making plans to exchange her wheelchair for a hand-cranked bike for the annual RAGBRAI ride across Iowa (500 miles, 7 days) and the 1998 GTE Big Ride Across America, from Seattle, WA to Washington, DC (3,000 miles, 6½ weeks).

Along with the constant discipline of conditioning, the right racing chair and a list of benefactors, Mary relies on Freeman back support garments to give her a competitive edge. We are privileged to assist Mary in her racing career with our contribution of Freeman back supports. We thank her for her testimonial to the value of our product and we invite others to share their stories.