Ivan Castro running in the Sahara Desert!
Tax deductible
Ivan Castro, blinded in the service of his country, is taking on another extreme physical challenge. This time the challenge is running across the Sahara desert in Morocco in a multi-day stage race called the Marathon Des Sables.
Learn more about the Marathon Des Sables here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_des_Sables
Ivan wants to use this opportunity to raise money for a cause that he cares deeply about, his Special Forces team mates and their Families.
By donating to this Go Fund Me, you will be helping the Special Forces Charitable Trust in their work with the reintegration of warriors and their families.
By donating here you also help a wounded veteran continue his mission to give back to the Special Forces family.
Who is Ivan Castro? His military career began in the summer of 1987. He attended the Basic Airborne Course while enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Puerto Rico. Castro also served as an infantryman in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard from 1988-1990. He then transferred to the active component of the U.S. Army, completing his first tour of duty in Co B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry. During this time, he was deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. Upon his return, he served with 101st Pathfinder Detachment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
In 1992, Castro was reassigned to Co E, (Long Range Surveillance), 51st Infantry in Darmstadt, Germany. While in Germany, Castro deployed twice to Bosnia in support of Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Forge. In 1996, he reported to Co C, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and in 1998, Castro served as a drill sergeant at Co A, 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry at Sand Hill at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In 1999, he attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and later that year began the Special Forces Qualification Course.[7] Upon graduation in 2000, he reported to Co B, 3d Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Castro's MOS was Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. While there, he deployed to Colombia, Belize, and Ecuador.
Castro went to night school to complete a B.A. degree, before attending the Army's Officers Candidate School. He attended Officer Candidate School in 2004, earning a second lieutenant commission the same year. He then attended the Infantry Officer basic course at Fort Benning, GA. In 2005, he reported to Co D, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. While assigned to the 82d, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for the first parliamentary elections.
By the time he was sent to Iraq as a scout platoon leader with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment, Castro was already an experienced combat veteran. In 2006, Castro was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, which was in combat in Iraq at the time. In September 2006, Castro and his men had relieved other paratroopers atop a house in the town of Yusifiyah, some 20 miles southwest of Baghdad, after a night of fighting. A mortar round landed a few feet away from him, killing Sergeant Porras and PFC Dreese and severely wounding Castro. Shrapnel tore through his body, damaging a shoulder, breaking an arm, fracturing facial bones and collapsing his lungs. The blast also drove the frame of his protective eyewear into his face.
Castro was sent to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The top half of his right index finger was ripped off and the doctors had to amputate the remaining part of the finger. His right eye was blown out and he had a metal fragment in his left eye. The extent of his injuries was such that doctors doubted whether Castro would survive the week. When Castro regained consciousness days later, his right eye was gone, but doctors hoped to salvage the vision in his left. The surgeons later removed one last piece of shrapnel from that eye. When they took off his bandages they flashed a light for Castro to see; however, when he did not respond to the light, he was told that he would never see again. Castro remained in the hospital for two months after his injury, with no idea of what he would do next. He then overheard a doctor and a nurse discussing the next Army Ten-Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon. He asked his doctor if the courses were flat or hilly, then made running both races his goal.
What Athletic Endeavors has Ivan undertaken? Since his injuries Ivan has completed numerous marathons and ultramarathons, while also biking across the U.S.A., hiking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, skiing to the South Pole and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Ivan wants to continue to show that living a full life is possible after being injured, and he has made it his personal mission to assist others in their healing from the wounds of war.
Help Ivan make a difference? Help raise money for Special Forces Charitable Trust (Special Forces Family Fund), and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to Ivan and many Special Forces Soldiers.
More information about Special Forces Charitable Trust (Special Forces Family Fund): To Serve Past And Present Us Army Special Forces Soldiers And Their Families Through Direct Service Programs Such As Scholarships, Veteran Assistance, Transition Programs And Family Support Services.
Learn more about the Marathon Des Sables here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_des_Sables
Ivan wants to use this opportunity to raise money for a cause that he cares deeply about, his Special Forces team mates and their Families.
By donating to this Go Fund Me, you will be helping the Special Forces Charitable Trust in their work with the reintegration of warriors and their families.
By donating here you also help a wounded veteran continue his mission to give back to the Special Forces family.
Who is Ivan Castro? His military career began in the summer of 1987. He attended the Basic Airborne Course while enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Puerto Rico. Castro also served as an infantryman in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard from 1988-1990. He then transferred to the active component of the U.S. Army, completing his first tour of duty in Co B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry. During this time, he was deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. Upon his return, he served with 101st Pathfinder Detachment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
In 1992, Castro was reassigned to Co E, (Long Range Surveillance), 51st Infantry in Darmstadt, Germany. While in Germany, Castro deployed twice to Bosnia in support of Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Forge. In 1996, he reported to Co C, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and in 1998, Castro served as a drill sergeant at Co A, 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry at Sand Hill at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In 1999, he attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and later that year began the Special Forces Qualification Course.[7] Upon graduation in 2000, he reported to Co B, 3d Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Castro's MOS was Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. While there, he deployed to Colombia, Belize, and Ecuador.
Castro went to night school to complete a B.A. degree, before attending the Army's Officers Candidate School. He attended Officer Candidate School in 2004, earning a second lieutenant commission the same year. He then attended the Infantry Officer basic course at Fort Benning, GA. In 2005, he reported to Co D, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. While assigned to the 82d, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for the first parliamentary elections.
By the time he was sent to Iraq as a scout platoon leader with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment, Castro was already an experienced combat veteran. In 2006, Castro was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, which was in combat in Iraq at the time. In September 2006, Castro and his men had relieved other paratroopers atop a house in the town of Yusifiyah, some 20 miles southwest of Baghdad, after a night of fighting. A mortar round landed a few feet away from him, killing Sergeant Porras and PFC Dreese and severely wounding Castro. Shrapnel tore through his body, damaging a shoulder, breaking an arm, fracturing facial bones and collapsing his lungs. The blast also drove the frame of his protective eyewear into his face.
Castro was sent to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The top half of his right index finger was ripped off and the doctors had to amputate the remaining part of the finger. His right eye was blown out and he had a metal fragment in his left eye. The extent of his injuries was such that doctors doubted whether Castro would survive the week. When Castro regained consciousness days later, his right eye was gone, but doctors hoped to salvage the vision in his left. The surgeons later removed one last piece of shrapnel from that eye. When they took off his bandages they flashed a light for Castro to see; however, when he did not respond to the light, he was told that he would never see again. Castro remained in the hospital for two months after his injury, with no idea of what he would do next. He then overheard a doctor and a nurse discussing the next Army Ten-Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon. He asked his doctor if the courses were flat or hilly, then made running both races his goal.
What Athletic Endeavors has Ivan undertaken? Since his injuries Ivan has completed numerous marathons and ultramarathons, while also biking across the U.S.A., hiking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, skiing to the South Pole and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Ivan wants to continue to show that living a full life is possible after being injured, and he has made it his personal mission to assist others in their healing from the wounds of war.
Help Ivan make a difference? Help raise money for Special Forces Charitable Trust (Special Forces Family Fund), and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to Ivan and many Special Forces Soldiers.
More information about Special Forces Charitable Trust (Special Forces Family Fund): To Serve Past And Present Us Army Special Forces Soldiers And Their Families Through Direct Service Programs Such As Scholarships, Veteran Assistance, Transition Programs And Family Support Services.
Fundraising team: Ivan Castro MdS (3)
Fred Dummar
Organizer
Raised $4,120 from 21 donations
Fayetteville, NC
Special Forces Charitable Trust (Special Forces Family Fund)
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
Darlene Matos
Team member
David Guernsey
Team member
This team raised $1,300 from 10 other donations.
