VINELAND --- They left from HealthSouth Rehab Hospital in Orange Co. California on May 27th, and arrived at the Vineland HealthSouth Hospital late Thursday afternoon. A 3,500 mile transcontinental bike ride by four ordinary looking people -- ordinary except for the fact that they all have at least one prosthetic leg.

Started by Joe Sapere in 2002, "Amputees Across America" is an annual coast to coast trek that makes a number of stops at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals along the way, allowing the riders -- all of them amputees -- to inspire and motivate patients who have physical challenges. This summers tour stopped at 30 rehab facilities.

"...I wouldn't have done it if I had two legs, I'll tell you that," said Doc Milligan, a 63 year old Dayton, Ohio native, who had just finished his first Amputees Across America tour, "....the bike ride is just a tool, so it would let the other people know that they can go on with their lives."

Finishing his third cross country tour, was Albuquerque, New Mexico resident, Abel Cruz, who lost his leg in a 2005 motorcycle accident, and thanks Amputees Across America for getting him to stand tall again, "....they inspired me, they got me out of the wheelchair, when I heard they were coming through town, I still wasn't walking and I think that motivated me to be able to learn to walk again, be able to ride a bike before they got there."

Amber "AJ" Johnson, a double amputee, says that as a full time third grade teacher, she doesn't have time to be disabled -- she considers herself 'differently-abled', and says that gives her great opportunity to inspire the people she meets in the rehab hospitals, "....this is a 'pay it forward' kind of thing, we had people who did it for us at one time or another when we were in rehab or we were having surgeries or what-not, and if we can do that for somebody else...it makes it all worth while."