A group of Hollywood celebs, bicycling legends and veteran advocates have joined forces with the Pentagon to organize the “Road 2 Recovery” bike series to raise funds for veterans with disabilities. The series kicked off March 4, with an informal fun ride at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. D.C. The first of two large fundraising rides will start on May 17 in Philadelphia and end eight days later in Charlotte, NC. According to organizers, the ride will conclude with participants completing a lap on the track of the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600.
One of the leading advocates of the benefit is Mike Vogel, the Chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. Vogel is also a Hollywood movie star, who recently played a lead role in the 2007 hit horror film Cloverfield.
“The first day of production on Cloverfield, I got the news that a cousin had been killed in Iraq,” said Vogel. “I knew I had to do something to help.”
Vogel found a sympathetic partner in John Wordin, a former pro cyclist who was already working on a plan to assist the VA in improving its cycling facilities. Wordin believes that bicycling has numerous positive effects on veterans.
“Cycling is a very effective method of helping these men and women achieve a sense of normalcy and pride,” he says.
Famous riders participating in the events are Olympic silver medalist and world champion Mari Holden, Olympian Wayne Stetina, and former pro racer Saul Raisin. Raisin, who suffered a serious brain injury in a French race in 2006, knows firsthand about the effect of cycling on recovering.
“Cycling does something wonderful and healing to your brain. It gives you more stamina to heal and helps you get over the depression that occurs.” he said.
Future “Road 2 Recovery” events are already scheduled. A second ride is planned from September 28 to October 4 from San Francisco to West Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast Highway. The U.S. Air Force is hosting the first Air Force Cycling Classic on May 4th in Arlington, VA. All proceeds will go towards VA cycling programs, with a focus on those with traumatic brain injuries.
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