Robert Wright was just 16 days old, cradled in his mother's arms on the way to a church, when the family car left the road and struck a utility pole in Monroe, Snohomish County.

The infant was slammed headfirst into the dashboard.

Physicians informed the parents that Robert had suffered sever brain damage and had only a 60-50 chance of survival. If he lived, they said, he almost surely would have minimal eyesight, speech and motor skills. In today's terminology, he would be a "vegetable".

Robert Wright survived. He's now 34, legally blind and poorly coordinateed.

But, speaking with care and precision, he says,"As you can see, I'm not a vegetable".

Indeed, he isn't.

And in his long struggle for education, improved physical function, and acceptance by society, Wright has developed a a warm sense of humor that armors him hurt when people stare at his slightly jerky gait or his right eye, which turns outward.

He has been asked, point blank, "Are you retarded?" And he responds with laughter and says, "Not really!"

Despite occasional rebuffs by those he has tried to befriend, Wright says, "I continue to care about people, even if the don't indicate that they care about me."

In 1977, while attending Olympic College in Bremerton, Wright raised $500 for the American Heart Association by riding 50 miles on a bicycle.

The next year, while attending the University of Washington, he raised more than $1,200 for the AHA with an 80 mile bicycle ride.

On Sept. 2, Wright will undertake his most ambitious bicycle ride on befalf of the AHA - 800 miles to San Francisco, on his 16 speed Raliegh 440 by way of scenic Highway 101

"I'd like to raise $10,000, " says Wright. "It would make me feel useful."

Wright fell often and regularly skinned his knees while learning to run as a boy. but he persisted 'because challenging life and trying things is what is important, not whether you succeed".

Wright has broken his collarbone three times - onec while trying to play football in a phyhsical-education class, twice while riding a bicycle. He last broke his collarbone four months ago when he was struck by a car while practicing for his ride to San Francisco.

"I'm fine now," Wright says.of the injury. I may seem accident-prone, but I really ride pretty well."

In addition to raising money for the American Heart Association and proving something to himself, Wright has another reason for wanting to bicvycle to San Francisco. He plans to visit an elderly woman who, many years ago, was the firlfriend of his grandfather, the late Dana A. Bronson, whom he revered.

Wright says his philosophy is one of not expecting too much out of life and then being delightfully surprised by all the good things that have happpened to him.

Of his legal blindness, he says "You could say I'm blessed by not knowing what 20/20 vision is like. How can you be angry about losing something you never had? I know my limitations. They aren't going to get better, so I accept them and try to live stress-free."

Wright has spent 10 years in college - four at Olympic, six at the UW. He says he hasn't given up hope of someday earning a degree

Wright lives alone in en orderly apartment in Seattle's North End., keeping detailed records of purchases so he can stay within his modest Social Security income and set aside money enough to finance his interest in photography, computers, amateur radio (Call Letters KB7FKZ) and cycling.

The persistence that made Wright get up repeatedly after falling has continued into his adult life. When he wants something, he doesn't give up.

"I had Robert in an economics class when I was a teaching assistant at the University of Washington", says Peter Marek, now a business consultant and part-time teacher. "He really impressed me with his intelligence. It took a long time to read things, because of his bad eyesight. But he simply refused to give up."

To make the San Francisco trip a reality, Wright has written scores of letters and made munerous telephone calls to businesses, asking for help with food and suplies.

"You just keep trying and before you know it you are talking to the man or woman at the top and they often turn out to be fantastically generous," he says.

Among those who have furnished supplies for his San Francisco adventure are: Amtrak, which has guaranteed return transportatin from San Francisco: Norco/Velo Stores, Icom America; Blackburn; Raleigh Bike Ltd, and Shaklee Products.

Providing food coupons are Dairy Queen, Rax, Burger King, Sea Falley, Jack in THe Box, Pizza Hut, Godfather's, Little Caessars and Wendco Distributers.

Still needed, he says, are a waterproof sleeping bag, a tarp, a one-man tent and a small cash reserve for emergencies, such as bus fare.

"Oh, yes", he adds, "and I'd certainly like to have a bike rider or two to come along with me. It's nice to have someone to talk with on a long trip".