Injured Veterans Cycle Toward Recovery in the Sunshine State
Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride Heads to Miami and Key West Jan. 6-10, 2016
MIAMI, Jan. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cycling in the name of hope and perseverance, 35 injured service members will roll through Miami and Key West for an inspirational journey. Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride®, presented by USAA®, enables the triumph of these veterans with an uplifting experience through various physical health and wellness activities.
The multi-day event connects fellow service members in an experience that facilitates team-building and engagement with each other and the community. Despite the daily challenges they face, WWP injured service members are encouraged to stay healthy and active once the ride is over.
Before the ride, each participant is fit with adaptive equipment to meet their specific needs. The 48-mile trek may prove to be a challenge, but starting the journey to recovery is a great feat as well. In addition to cycling, Soldier Ride participants will take part in a number of physical health and wellness activities as well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences meant to strengthen the bond of camaraderie. Throughout the event, injured service members will take a tour of Jungle Island, play catch at Marlins Park, explore the Dolphin Research Center, and snorkel and fish at Fury Private Island Adventure.
On Sunday, Jan. 10, a 5-mile community ride will start at the United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Ingham at Truman Annex (Southard Street) and take riders on a historic tour of Key West, and end with a closing ceremony at Mallory Square. Registration for the ride is $20 and includes a Soldier Ride T-shirt along with access to all of the day's festivities. Those interested in participating in the Key West community ride can register online or onsite.
Soldier Ride brings together WWP Alumni from across the nation for this life-changing experience. The event is often an introductory program for injured service members who have recently become involved with WWP, which serves injured service members, caregivers, and their families.
Soldier Ride presented by USAA is also being supported across the country by U-Haul, a founding partner of Soldier Ride, and TREK, both proud supporters of WWP.
To learn how to help a veteran, please visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
About Solider Ride
Soldier Ride began in 2004 when civilian Chris Carney cycled more than 5,000 miles coast-to-coast in support of WWP. In 2005, Carney again cycled coast-to-coast, this time with several combat-wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldier Ride has been welcomed at the White House since 2008 when President Bush called it "the most inspiring athletic event in the country", and most recently in April 2015 by President Obama where WWP Alumni met privately with him before the event.
Soldier Ride is a physical health and wellness program of WWP, which envisions a generation of wounded veterans well-adjusted in body, receiving the care they need to maximize rehabilitation and live active and healthy lives. Through peer support, adaptive sports, health, nutrition, and recreational activities, WWP helps warriors achieve independence and pursue an excellent quality of life.
More information on Soldier Ride is available at soldierride.org
About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique and direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundwarriorproject.org.
SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project
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