A Clarkstown police officer is on a mission to raise money for two organizations after losing a limb last year.

Matthew Bender is not losing track of his life, even after a motorcycle accident last fall in Thiells meant his left leg had to be amputated below the knee.

A few weeks later, he returned to the stage. A few months after that, he was back in action with Clarkstown police.

"God no. No. I'm not going to let anything stop me," Bender says.

Running on grit, he pushed himself one step further.

"Actually, while I was still in the hospital after they told me they're going to have to amputate my leg, I actually signed up for the [Tough] Mudder because I was going to prove that this wasn't going to stop me," he adds.

The Marine veteran and 20-plus year officer will take part in the 10-mile obstacle course Tough Mudder race next month.

He will run to raise funds for the Gary Sinise Foundation, which helps veterans, first responders and their families, and the Life By Music charity, which connects people to music who may not have access.

He's calling it Bender's Crusade.

So far, he has raised a couple thousand dollars and hopes other donors can help him raise even more.

"So I'm hoping I can help them out and help other people that didn't recover fast as I did, and give me to give a little boost," Bender says.

Bender has been training with his daughter, Sam, who will also be by his side in September's race.

"Just to show my kids that it doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down, it's that last time you get back up that counts," he says.

If you would like to donate, follow this link.