Arlen Jacob

Arlen

Arlen Jacob

Cyclocross, Criteria

On Point Foundation Athlete
Arlen Jacob the founder of On Point Foundation is a disabled service member. After 16 years in the U.S. Army Arlen was medically discharged. As the Founder of On Point Foundation he will lead the way in helping disabled service members regain control of their lives.arlen_03During a military ski training accident in 2006, Arlen impacted a tree while skiing at over 50 mph. Arlen broke six ribs, punctured his right lung, punctured his kidney, punctured his liver, fractured L-1 through L-5 vertebrae and tore an artery. After two surgeries he now has six titanium screws and two rods fused in his lower spine. Nerve damage on both sides of his lower extremities have plagued him with countless other issues. His sacroiliac joints are deteriorating due to his lack of lower spinal movement and arthritis is in his spine is on a fast pace. Although Arlen still has a large portion of his mobility, he suffers from chronic pain in which his pain levels rarely go below a 6 out 10 on the pain scale.arlen_15 

Immediately after his accident the U.S. Army medical system tried to help Arlen by offering to purchase a special chair for Arlen to sit in, which would alleviate pain while he recovered. This was a great gesture on the U.S. Army’s part, but it took the U.S. Army’s medical system over two months to purchase the chair through the red tape of approvals. Those first two months were critical for Arlen’s recovery and his ability to be comfortable and rest was crucial.arlen_04

A lady at the U.S. Army hospital who worked with Arlen to purchase the chair through the military fortunately knew the process would be long and she called a local non-profit for disabled veterans in Colorado Springs. That local non profit was started by a retired soldier and he purchased the chair for Arlen the very next day. Two months later when the U.S. Army gave Arlen the money to purchase the chair Arlen donated the entire arlen_01amount back to that non profit.

This chair allowed Arlen to sit comfortably while he went through his nine months of recovery. To this day Arlen still uses this chair and it has become the symbol that On Point Foundation was created upon. If it was not for the local non profit who helped Arlen in a time of need Arlen would have gone through an immense amount of pain during his recovery.arlen_14

Since the accident Arlen has taken a change in his life for the cautious side. His friends and family never gave up hope as his recovery went through cycles of ups and downs. After Arlen was medically discharged from the U.S. Army, he founded On Point Foundation in order to help disabled service members like himself.

On November 22, 2009 in Woodstock, IL, Arlen set the example for other disabled service members who have also become cautious and want to become active again. He races in his first ever Cyclocross race under his new team name ImONPoint.org – Loose Screws. Arlen hopes to raise awareness for the cause and encourage other disable service members to join him in future races.

Cyclocross Races

Dec 09 – Montrose Harbor Illinois Cyclocross State Champoinship

Nov 09 – Woodstock – Chicago Cyclocross Cup Race #9

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