It's not about the stuff, Part III

If some people think it's hard to give up the car for a two-mile bike trip, they should take a look at the Wounded Warrior Project and their Soldier Ride.
A group of veterans recovering from serious wounds sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan completed a 300-mile Desert Challenge Soldier Ride last Thursday, as they rode their fleet of hand cycles, recumbent trikes and other specially adapted human-powered vehicles through the Interbike exhibit hall.
Wounded Warriors Project, a non-profit advocacy group, initially provide the recovering veterans with needed basics, including clothing, toiletries and calling cards. Later, they offer several programs to help with the recovery and encourage participation in various sports activities, with cycling among them. Many Wounded Warrior members later go on to help and mentor more recently wounded veterans.
The group works to create awareness of wounded soldiers' issues, and build support for its projects to raise financial and moral aid to veterans. Their appearance at Interbike, and the other five rides the group will complete this year, was part of that mission: to raise funds and equipment donations needed to continue enhancing the lives of wounded veterans.

Comments

[Woody Groton]

Thank you for the post on our program. I can not convey to you how rewarding it is to work with these brave men and women. As a cycling fanatic it is awesome to see how cycling can change the life of a wounded veteran for the better. Some of our riders have gone on to Paralympic competition.
Best,
Woody Groton
Soldier Ride National Tour Director
Wounded Warrior Project
soldierride@woundedwarriorproject.org

[Justyna]

It was pretty amazing just to see these people walk through the convention hall, let alone witness their ride through the desert. I wish I had known about this program earlier. I found out about it at Interbike from Hal Honeyman of the Bike Rack in St. Charles, who has considerable experience with creative mobility, and whose parents, I understand, drove one of the sag vehicles for the ride. Hats off to all of you.