Mark Martin believes he was selected for inspiring his sister. His sister is 40 years old, has two young children and struggles to make ends meet. Mark's dedication to recover from open-heart surgery has motivated her to improve the quality of her own life. Despite having this surgery less than two years ago, Mark is an avid cyclist today and has ridden over 2000 miles, including two organized century rides. "Carrying the torch means that I have the responsibility to continue to work to inspire others," Mark says.