Matt Bender, a Marine Corps veteran and Clarkstown police officer who lost most of his left leg last year in a motorcycle crash, made good on a promise this weekend to not lose track of his own life.
And in the process, he raised some $7,000 in charitable donations.
Bender said that when doctors informed he would have to undergo surgery last year, he decided to sign up for the 2022 Tough Mudder endurance competition from his hospital bed.
"I was going to prove that this wasn't going to stop me," he added.
This weekend, Bender followed through on his promise to compete and raised thousands in donations for the Gary Sinise Foundation and Life By Music charity.
This Saturday, Napoli's in New City and Valley Pizza in Valley Cottage will be donating 20% of sales to Bender's cause.