Face of America Ride 2012 Honors Nation's Disabled and Non-Disabled Military Members

News provided by

Apr 19, 2012, 11:00 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's wounded warriors and active military will be honored in the 2012 Face of America, a two day bicycle ride from Arlington, Virginia to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania this April 28-29. Starting at the Pentagon, nearly 500 disabled and able bodied riders on bicycles and hand cycles will travel past Virginia's iconic monuments and ride through gently rolling country byways to the historic Civil War battlefields at Gettysburg.

The annual Face of America ride is managed by World T.E.A.M. Sports, a 20 year old not-for-profit that organizes inclusive events for disabled citizens and wounded warriors. The ride offers an opportunity to show disabled and non-disabled servicemen and women how much America appreciates their efforts and sacrifices. Funds raised through the ride pay for participating wounded warriors' transportation, hotels, food and support, and create a safe ride experience for all participants. Excess funds from the ride will be used for future inclusive World T.E.A.M. Sports events for the disabled.

The 2012 Face of America begins with a gala kick off dinner on Friday, April 27 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington, DC-Crystal City, blocks from the Pentagon. The following morning, more than 80 disabled veterans and more than 400 active and retired military and civilian riders will ride together from the Pentagon past the 9/11 and Iwo Jima Memorials. The ride that day will take the group along beautiful country roads in rural Maryland to Frederick. Throughout the journey, local citizens will come out in support and to encourage the riders. Along the route, rest stops at local firehouses, schools and community centers provide an opportunity for residents to meet the participants.

After spending the evening in Frederick, the riders will head off early Sunday morning along picturesque roads leading to southern Pennsylvania. Arriving in Gettysburg by mid-day, the riders will complete the Face of America ride with a celebratory steak dinner set within the community's historic battlefields. This year's ride is dedicated to the late Cpl. Jim "Seamus" Garrahy, the longtime host for the ride's conclusion and dinner, who succumbed to cancer in January.

Presented by Capital One, Face of America is sponsored by American Portfolios, General Electric, Booz Allen Hamilton, Revolution Cycles, Subway of the Bethesda Naval Hospital, Veterans Corps, and Penske Truck Rentals. The 2012 Face of America is the tenth edition of the ride.

SOURCE World T.E.A.M. Sports