On Saturday, Oct. 10, more than 150 wounded heroes will complete a 7-day, 475-mile journey from San Francisco to LA. The Wounded Heroes, many home from Iraq and Afghanistan, are cycling down scenic Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Their goal is to raise awareness and money to provide bikes and equipment for mental and physical therapy for fellow military heroes. The final leg of this journey brings the riders down San Vicente Blvd. from 26th to the West LA VA. 

This is where you come in.  We are looking for everyone, You, your family, friends, community members, organizations, and congregations to come out and line San Vicente Blvd. all the way to the VA. Welcome home these brave men and women and cheer them on their final miles.  Special guest riders include James Cromwell, Adam Baldwin, Tobey Maguire, Mike Vogel, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Kristy Swanson, Adam Housley, and Andrew Breitbart. 

Afterwards, join us for a FREE celebration at the West LA VA next to the Wadsworth Theater. The entertainment will be provided by SNL’s Victoria Jackson, Jon David, and Rock Nation and you can visit and talk with the heroes including Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Walt Ehlers and the American Legion Riders.

Schedule

• 9:00 AM   Riders leave Ventura
• 1:00 PM  Join us on San Vicente Blvd. to welcome the riders home
• 1:30 PM   Riders Arrive – West LA VA 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90073
• 1:45 PM   ROCK NATION                     
• 3:15 PM   Jon David Performs
• 3:30 PM   VICTORIA JACKSON LIVE
• 4:45 PM   Program concludes 

Join our community in saluting these Heroes

Nice spot for dinner

What can you say about a day in the saddle that anyone in the world would love to experience?  The icing on the cake was a dinner at Clint Eastwood’s Carmel Mission Ranch. The whole day was about as good a day as anyone could imagine. The weather was perfect, the ride less hilly than the day before, and the riders were stating to gel. Nate continued to impress everyone as he looks to become the first R2R participant to handcycle from SF to LA.

Make my day...

The biggest difference this year is the participation with the VA system in California. All of the major VA teams have brought new injured vets into the program. One such group is from Antelope Valley; in all, six riders made the trip to join the ride. Many of them received their bikes just two weeks ago. Although they would have like to have more time to prepare, they have had a great time. Today two of their members, David Balladarez and Gary Sandoval, made the first group. They could not have been happier. They learned about drafting and how much you should eat when you are riding.

American Legion Riders lead the way each day

At dinner tonight, they were joined by another AV rider Anthony Cabrera and Navy Seal Lt. Robert Ramirez. Lt. Ramirez was awarded a bronze star with V for Valor for his service in Iraq. He was part of a joint integration team with the US Army Special Ops and the Navy Seals that help counter the insurgents in Irag. A famous novel called the Sheriff of Ramadi chronicled this effort. Ramirez is now attending the Naval College in Monterrey.

Nate leading the way

The riders are now looking forward to the biggest day on the tour as we leave Carmel and head down to San Simeon and through the beautiful Big Sur national forest.

Lt. Ramirez with AV

A therapeutic challenge: Veterans with physical, mental injuries will bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

To Support Our Wounded Vets.

Day one of the 2nd annual Golden State Challenge with more than 150 participants headed of from the San Francisco VA towards the seaside town of Santa Cruz. The 75-mile ride took the riders thru scenic Northern California coastline including Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, and the climb of Bonnie Doon. The weather could not have been more perfect with sunny skies and a nice 15 mph tailwind. The ride is made up of groups from the Palo Alto, San Francisco, Livermoore, Fresno, Antelope Valley, West LA, and Sepulveda VA’s. Military groups come from Walter Reed, Brooke Army MC, San Diego Naval MC, Ft Irwin, Ft. Eustice, California National Guard, and several Viet Nam vets. One of the best scenes of the day was SF VA’s Eric Downing come out on his tandem with his 5 year old son.

We had the Hospital Director from the Fresno VA along for the ride for the first couple of days showing the growing importance of the program.

One of the things that people always ask is how do you know if you are really making a difference?

Last year 14 wounded heroes took part in the ride without having ridden a bike since childhood. They received their bikes the day before the ride started and had no time to prepare. Fast forward to 2009 and thanks to a grant from the USO, 78 bikes have been given to wounded heroes throughout the US. This has given the participants time to train and set up their riding position. The wounded vets have been training for months just to prepare for this event. Our first handcycle and trike cycle riders are trying to overcome the hills of California. Nate Hunt, a veteran of 2 R2R events this year has taken California as his personal challenge. 75 miles down and no one doubts that he will make it all the way.

One of those 14 riders was Elmer Urgarte. Ugarte, a native of San Diego, said he signed up for the ride as a tribute to 2 of his friends that did not make it out of Iraq. Urgarte was shot in the chest by a sniper while patrolling Karmah, Iraq, on July 23. He was rushed to the hospital in Iraq and was dead for 5 minutes. Because of the great work of the medical staff, he was eventually given a new lease on life. A chance that he did not want to waste. The surgery from Ugarte’s wound left a scar from his sternum to several inches below his naval.

He had several subsequent surgeries and had trouble breathing. Despite all this he decided to show up to San Francisco last year. He rode most of the ride but suffered greatly. Few will forget the heartfelt impromptu address he made at the Solvang dinner.

This year, Urgarte showed up to San Francisco a completely changed man. Gone was almost 50 pounds and a new found dedication of health and fitness.

“Cycling is my new addiction, and because of this ride, it will become yours,” he told the participants prior to the start of the ride. “Last year I struggled and this year I came to have a great time.

The new improved Elmer…..

This is a great example of how the program affects the participants and how they can benefit.

I’ve set up a special site at Causes.com to allow for all of us to participate in the R2R auction in order to win a dinner with Sarah Palin for five wounded warriors.

This is how it works:

1. Go to this site and make a donation directly to R2R.

2. At the end of the auction, Friday Sept. 18th, the accumulated donations will be entered as a bid for the DINNER WITH SARAH PALIN auction.

3. If this is the winning bid, FIVE deserving warriors chosen by the Ride 2 Recovery program will enjoy dinner with Sarah Palin – a wonderful evening out with a most wonderful person.

4. If this is not the winning bid, R2R will still benefit from your generous contribution and we will know that each of us will have donated to a most worthy cause.

So let’s put this “over the top” and send five guys/gals out on the town. Together we can make it happen.

I am currently sixty-three years old, retired, and am looking forward to my “golden years.”  As a Marine Corps Viet Nam era veteran, I fully appreciate the sacrifices that our service members and families are making every day on our behalf.  In my day there was a saying….  “All gave some and some gave all.”  To that I would like to add… and some gave more than others.   Being a Marine I have a firm belief in teamwork, such that by acting together great things can be accomplished.  In my opinion this is one of those times. 

I thank you for your interest and my best regards to everyone at Big Hollywood,

Steven P. Parmenter

Day 6 was set to be a 35-mile ride from Hampton to Virginia Beach. During the course of the ride, the riders would be given a tour of Ft. Monroe, one of the most picturesque military bases in the world. It is also the location where the African slave ships would come to the new world in the 1600s and 1700s. While on base, we stopped to take the big team picture.

"American Idol" David Cook

After the tour, we had a stop at the nearby American Legion post to load up the bikes to drive through the Hampton/Norfolk tunnel.   With the help of the Virginia State and Virginia Beach Police, the ride restarted on the other side.

Ft. Monroe

We talk about how the ride is very family oriented. Today was the perfect example of how the family plays a big role in the overall healing part of a wounded warrior’s rehab. For the first time, Nate Hunt’s wife took the road on a bike to ride with her husband. She had been secretly training since the end of the Texas Challenge so that she could ride the last day today and surprise Nate. She has been a very valuable member of our support team along with Patty Bruder, Leah Edmonds, John and Jessica Austerman, Neil Stewart, and Scott and Lisa.

Nathan and Michelle Hunt

After our arrival at our final destination, many of the wounded warriors had their family including their kids waiting for them and cheering them for the challenge just completed. It was great to see the cheers and tears for a goal accomplished.

For the final piece of entertainment, we were all treated to former “American Idol” winner David Cook in concert at the beachfront. Thanks to the City of Virginia Beach and the USO for the experience. The coolest part was when David Cook sang Happy Birthday to Patty Collins on her 40th B-day.

R2R reaches Virginia Beach

It was a fitting end to a great week of fun, riding, and making friends for life.

Now we are all thinking about California… Hope you all can join us…..

Road2Recovery homepage here.

The second annual Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge is from May 25-30. For the first time, the event started with a cycling clinic featuring Olympic cyclist Wayne Stetina and former Mercury Cycling Team mechanic Scott Moro. With support from cycling professional like Gary Hanson and Neil Stewart, Vietnam vets Jim Penseyres and Duane Wagner, all of the R2R participants had a great deal of knowledge to learn the ins and outs of riding and healing.

The clinic really helped get the R2R participants oriented on their bikes and almost all of them had their riding positions fixed up and this will make for a much more comfortable ride.

The Wounded Warriors that participate in the Ride 2 Recovery events have come from all over the US and almost all service branches are represented. Many of these brave men and women have seen their friends and fellows soldiers not return from Iraq and Afghanistan. Memorial Day is not just another day off.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

View from Iwo Jima

This R2R ride goes thru some of the most historical areas of our country especially the Civil and Revolutionary War periods. The first stop on the route is Manassas, where the first major battle of the Civil War took place. On the way, the group will go past Mt. Vernon, the home of George Washington.

The ride will kick-off with the National Memorial Parade, where the warriors and the American Legion Riders will be a part of the parade and then head down to Manassas.

This R2R ride is the largest group yet to take part in the ride. Over the next six days, we will bring you their stories.

We really look forward to bringing you all of the action……

Regards,

Ride 2 Recovery
Making a Difference in the Lives of Wounded Warriors
818.888.7091×1
818.710.1453 Fax
www.Ride2Recovery.com

You can also follow the ride by joining our Facebook Ride 2 Recovery group.

Supporters include American Legion Auxiliary, USO, Star Trac, VFW, Otis Spunkmeyer, Sunkist, Giant Bicycles, League of American Bicyclists, Operation Rebound, American Legion Riders, Step Up 4 Vets, California American Legion, Coca-Cola, Shimano, Veltec Sports, Hincapie Sports, Alternative Vehicles, Hansen’s, Clif Bar, Rudy Project, DeFeet, Park Tool, Speedplay, ProMax, Chamois Butt’r, CytoSport, and Bicycling Magazine. R2R is an America Supports You Homefront Group.

As we left Austin, the local elementary school gave us a big sendoff as they lined the road to greet the wounded warriors. They really got into it as we did a second pass through the kids giving high fives and waving signs.

Last night, several of the riders paid a visit to a local bike shop to get some gear. Among the most common purchase was new shoes. For those of you who do not ride much, cycling specific shoes make a big difference in both power and efficiency. Comfort also improves greatly with harder soled shoes. If you try to ride a 6 day ride with tennis shoes, your feet are going to hurt. One of our CFI riders was not sure he was even going to ride, did not know if he even liked to ride, and just came along at the last minute. Ryan Clark is an amazing person. He is an engineer and has a Master’s degree. When he is discharged, he will have lots of job offers and as engineers are, very analytical about making decisions.  

After a lot of lobbying, he decided to invest a modest sum into a pair of cycling shoes. After a brief tutorial on how to use his pedals and cleats, he was ready to ride. After about an hour, he was the happiest man in the group. 100% better he gleamed as he headed off the front of the group.  

The riders were outfitted with deFeet arm warmers as part of the gear they received at the beginning of the event. It should come as no surprise that arm warmers are being used for very creative uses by the wounded warriors. check out this photo as arm warmers are used as sun protector’s…..

One of the new rider’s today was General Gary Cheek. He is the director of all of the WTU’s for the Army. The WTU’s (Warrior Transition Unit) are where all of the wounded warriors goes as they rehab. Most of the wounded warriors that participate in Road 2 Recovery come from WTU’s. As the Commander, he is very interested in programs that help rehab the soldiers, whether it is physical or mental rehab that is needed. He had heard some things about R2R and wanted to see first hand about how the program worked.

Gen. Cheek

Gen. Cheek got the full blown Wayne Stetina treatment, kitted up and spent the day talking to the wounded warrior participants to get their perspective on how the program helps or not their recovery.

The ride was fast today with the big tailwind and we got to the finish more than 1 hour early, which gave everyone a chance to get some extra rest before heading off to Ft. Hood for a gala event with Commanding General Rick Lynch. Gen. Lynch was one of the commanders of the recent surge in Iraq. The surge turned around the fortunes of the people of Iraq and the Ft. Hood 3rd Corp. were instrumental in this success.

General’s Cheek, Wenz, and Lynch

More than 400 people paid tribute to the wounded warriors of Road 2 Recovery. It was one of the best evenings in the history of R2R….

Now onto Waco…..

For more information visit: www.TheRoad2Recovery.org

It is a testament to their courage that each of them has not only overcome these wounds, but has gone beyond what most people thought was possible. Many of them have dedicated themselves to showing fellow wounded warriors the way as mentors, some have gone back to active duty to continue serving our country. 

This week’s profile features a women who has participated in each of the R2R program events. She has come a long way in a short amount of time. Her unique story is told here. 

Smiling Patty on the way to finish of East Coast ride 

U..S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Patricia S. Collins was a remarkable soldier and athlete long before her life was changed forever.  Since that day, she has exceeded her own high standards. 

“Patty” is a distinguished paratrooper with hundreds of jumps to her credit.  She is also the mother of Gabe, an energetic three-year-old whose smile is the mirror of his mom’s.  An avid cyclist, swimmer and runner, she carries herself with the sure posture of a career military officer. 

She has also served her country well, including two special duty missions in Iraq.

 
First time we met…

Upon her return from her last Iraq tour, Patty was cycling with friends when she was struck by a car. Her left leg was severely damaged and later had to be amputated below her knee. 

An accident like that would knock down the faith and future of anyone, but Patty has soldiered on with even more dedication to serving her country, her family and her athletic pursuits. 

Patty was drawn to Road 2 Recovery because she had been down that road herself. Riding with R2R made her realize that “although I may not ride as strong as I used to, the same feelings and endorphins and camaraderie with fellow cyclists is the same as it ever was, and it’s really nice to have that back.  It gave me confidence to continue to dream of physical challenges again.”

 
Patty with her new cycling leg

A veteran of R2R’s epic San Francisco to Los Angeles ride in 2008, Patty is enthusiastic about the great people she’s met on the road and in the countless meetings that help the program expand to meet the needs of those who have given their nation so much.

“As a veteran, Road 2 Recovery has given me a sense of belonging and brotherhood with those who are experiencing or have experienced similar injuries/rehab struggles, etc., to show recovering people what positive things may lie ahead for them. If they can show themselves they can complete these rides, the sky is the limit.

Riding with Vietnam vet Jim Penseyres

“As a supporter of our troops, seeing the tenacity of what a service-members can overcome is an inspiration and showing them how supportive and patriotic Americans can be, is a refreshing experience of the goodness and humanity of my fellow men and women.”

If you want to meet Patty, she’s likely to show up on the local mountain bike trails, running paths, climbing walls or R2R ride.  She’s the one with the big smile.

For more info see: TheRoad2Recovery.org, and join us on Facebook

It is a testament to their courage that each of them has not only overcome these wounds, but has gone beyond what most people thought was possible. Many of them have dedicated themselves to showing fellow wounded warriors the way as mentors, some have gone back to active duty to continue serving our country. 

This week’s profile features someone from the famous 101^st Airborne who went to Iraq as part of the initial invasion and then went back and was injured in an IED attack in Iraq. 

The email came in just like so many before that…

Dear Road 2 Recovery,   I am in injured veteran, my left arm and left leg were lost during my second deployment to Iraq with the 101st out of Ft. Campbell Ky. I stumbled across your site while trying to find any information on trying to receive a bicycle through the VA.

Because I lost my arm above the elbow, a hand-cycle would not benefit me at all. The Birmingham VA here in Al that I receive my care was very excited to assist me in getting a bicycle. I met with therapists, doctors, and other that were involved in the decision that a bicycle would greatly assist me both physically and mentally. 

The emailer was Sgt. Noah Galloway and he is an inspiration to us all. He served two deployments to Iraq, during the second deployment he almost lost his life. 

Sgt. Galloway

Noah was assigned to the 1^st of the 502^nd Infantry of the 101^st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  As an infantry soldier, he was one of the few elite soldiers who would serve as front line ground troops during a time of war. 

In 2003, Noah fought in the initial strike on Iraq and spent one year fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom, which he says got him “hooked” and from that moment he knew he wanted to return.  “I loved my job as an infantry soldier,” says Noah.  “In the first year I was there, I saw the difference and progress we were making.  I could not wait to return.  Just the thought of going back thrilled me.”  In September 2005, Noah was finally redeployed to Iraq and just three months later, he suffered a life changing injury. 

On December 19, 2005, Noah lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack in Yusafiah, Iraq.  He was quickly transported to Germany to receive medical treatment and was unconscious for five days.  Noah woke up late in the evening on Christmas Eve to find out he had lost two of his limbs and also sustained several injuries to his remaining leg and his jaw.  Noah was then transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.  Not only was he faced with the overwhelming challenge of his recovery and learning to live life as a double amputee, after just two weeks at Walter Reed, Noah suffered yet another loss – his wife of four years left him.

Noah taking his first steps 

Moving beyond the emotional scars, Noah focused all his energy on his physical recovery and used the support of his fellow injured soldiers at Walter Reed as inspiration.  “All of us were raised in different towns with different families, but we were all servicemen and women who put our all into what we did and now each of us faced a different life ahead than the one we left before we went to combat,” says Noah.  “Whether is was a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, blindness, loss of a limb or some other kind of injury, we were all trying to find out who we were now that we were out in our communities with our new bodies, new mindsets and new lives.” 

Noah has found that being physically active has been vital to both his physical and emotional recovery. It was this realization that inspired him to send the email. 

In January of this year, Galloway received his new bicycle from Road 2 Recovery. He has set it up and will be taking part in the Don’t Mess with Texas Challenge starting on March 30 at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio. Galloway is one of the arm-use injury participants that will receive the new Shimano Electronic Shifting System (ESS). This ESS will allow wounded warriors to have a greatly enhanced riding experience. Rather than have to use their good wrist to control all shifting and braking, the new ESS only needs one to push a button to control all front and rear shifting. 

To help others, Noah recruits his fellow injured veterans for activities as diverse as kayaking, water skiing, shooting, and driving ATVs. “Some of them think it isn’t for them, but when I tell them my story, it makes a difference,” Noah said. “They need to see that life doesn’t end after an injury.” 

Gotta get Riding… 

Noah remarried in 2007 and he and his wife Tracy  have a 1yr old son, Jack, with one more on the way, and he has a 4 year-old son, Colston, from his previous marriage.  He and his family reside in Alabaster, Alabama. 

Spending a short amount of time with him, hearing his stories and seeing pictures of his humvee after the explosion it’s amazing what he lived through.  For such a young guy to be so willing to put his life on the line and continue to say he would go back if he could… He is like the tens of  thousands who are willing to fight for our country. Whether or not you agree with the war is not the point, the point is we should all make sure we tell those serving how proud we are of their efforts… Thank you, Sgt. Galloway.

For more Info see: TheRoad2Recovery.org, and join us on Facebook

It’s a testament to their courage that each of them has not only overcome these wounds, but has gone beyond what most people thought possible. Many of them have dedicated themselves to showing fellow wounded warriors the way as mentors. Some have gone back to active duty to continue serving our country.

We hope you enjoy this series. Please feel free to share to share it with your friends and colleagues.

Capt. Ferris Butler

In December of 2006, U.S. Army Captain Ferris Butler was on patrol in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle when an improvised explosive device tore through his Humvee. Butler lost his left leg and most of his right foot. For 15 months, a glum Butler was confined to a wheelchair while doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., worked to get him walking again.

But before he could walk, he had the chance to learn how to ride a bicycle.

On March 4, Butler received his first “bike leg” prosthetic and promptly went for a ride in nearby Rock Creek Park with other Walter Reed military amputees,  and former pro cyclist and Mercury pro team manager John Wordin. Wordin had started a non-profit rehab program called Road 2 Recovery to support wounded warriors using cycling as a means to address the overcoming of their injuries.

With a little help and lots of encouragement, Butler made his way up some short but steep hills. Capt. Butler made those climbs on his bike just 30 days after his war-damaged left leg was amputated. He fought to save it, enduring 53 surgeries before it was replaced with a carbon-fiber surrogate.

Just 70 days later, a tanned and fit Butler talked about his next big challenge: A six-day, 480-mile Road 2 Recovery bike ride from Walter Reed to Charlotte NC and a lap around Lowe’s Motor Speedway before the start of the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race.

“The trip is not so much about having fun as it was about transforming your new body with something you can work with the rest of your life,” stated Butler.

Then this September, Butler had to have his other leg amputated because of a lack of stability in his damaged limb. He was not sad or depressed, just the opposite. He counted the days until his new prosthetic would show up and he would be able to resume riding his bike. He soon began riding a Star Trac spin bike that had been donated to Walter Reed through the R2R program.

As a double amputee, his goal this time is the upcoming R2R Texas Challenge beginning March 30th at the Center for the Intrepid, a place where other wounded warriors recovering from serious injuries are rehabilitated. Some of them will join Butler on the ride.

“I’ve just come to the realization that life is not over,” says Butler of southern Maryland. “I’m going to go on and do probably bigger and better things.”

More Info: TheRoad2Recovery.org

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