Soldiers Ride - Wounded Warrior Project

Post # 2 (Better News)

Every once in awhile I get to talk about something cool here. This weekend my wife rode in the Soldiers Ride in Denver a product of the Wounded Warrior Program. (Links Below)

Wounded Warrior Program

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/content/view/412/875/

Soldier's Ride

http://sr.woundedwarriorproject.org/

She was approached through some of these wonderful folks at the VA to be a part of this experience. She was full of trepidation. After all, our own attempts to get her back on a bike hadn't been so successful. Her balance is shot to hell so its a lot like teaching the 6 year-old how to ride a bike - difference is she used to be an athlete and the idea that it would be hard to ride a bike again was totally foreign. I was sure I could get her up and going but failed miserably.

They put her on a recumbent sit down bike and Friday night she road eight miles as a prep for Saturday's ride. Despite the misgivings of the safety officer, they agreed to let her do it on Saturday. She made it. My wife, BBG, who used to knock out twenty like it was nothing road twenty miles on a bike was able to do it again. A simple pleasure we had thought lost forever was hers.

She cried when I met her at the end. Then she told me over and over how she had done it. A lunch provided by the Denver Hard Rock Cafe was a great way to end a very special weekend.

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.

The Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) Soldier Ride is a rehabilitative cycling program for wounded warriors and an advocacy program for today’s wounded warriors. For many of these combat-wounded veterans, Soldier Ride provides the first and important step in their return to an active lifestyle.
Many of these men and women have been physically active throughout their lives. Soldier Ride offers them the chance to get on a bike and prove to themselves, "I can still do this." Soldier Ride is not about politics; it's not about the war. It's simply about the soldiers. It’s about mindshare for the men and women that serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces.

There is much more to the Wounded Warrior Project and more programs than just the soldier's Ride. Please take the time to visit the web sites listed above, to find out more and to give your time, support, energy and even money if you can. As always, please share these links with friends family, local media, and your elected officials in your area.

Our greatest failure would be to let these heros fight this battle alone.

TIA

Earl