Injured Veterans Tackle New Challenges During Soldier Ride North Carolina

Wounded Warrior Project event returns to Charlotte July 16-18

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Jul 08, 2015, 08:00 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Charlotte will once again play host to Wounded Warrior Project^®(WWP) Soldier Ride^® presented by USAA^®. More than 40 injured service members will embark on an inspirational, 31-mile journey through the Piedmont region of North Carolina Thursday, July 16 through Saturday, July 18.

Soldier Ride often serves as an introductory event for WWP veterans. The national program brings together servicemen and women for a long weekend focused on improving their physical health and wellness, building camaraderie, and individual healing. In addition to cycling, they will also participate in team-building and adaptive sports while bonding over their military service.

The weekend begins with a bike fitting, where each disabled veteran is fit with adaptive equipment to meet their specific needs. On Friday morning, the group will cycle 17 miles through the historic Latta Plantation Park. They will continue Saturday with a 14-mile ride through the scenic Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. The community is invited and encouraged to come out to cheer on and support our troops while sharing their experiences on social media with the hashtag #SoldierRideNC.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, July 16
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM Bike Fitting
Hyatt House Charlotte Airport
4920 S Tyron Street
Charlotte, NC

Friday, July 17
8:30 AM Arrive at Latta Plantation Park

9:30 AM Soldier Ride Day 1 – Latta Plantation Park
6211 Sample Rd
Huntersville, NC

11:15 AM Ride Ends at Start Location

1:00 PM – 3:30 PM Kayaking, White Water Rafting, Paddleboarding
U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
Charlotte, NC

Saturday, July 18

8:15 AM Arrive at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens

9:00 AM
Soldier Ride Day 2 – Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
6500 S. New Hope Road
Belmont, NC

11:30 AM – Ride Ends at Start Location

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. Soldier Ride staff carefully plan each route, and engage the local community and law enforcement for support.

About Soldier 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 & 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, 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 woundedwarriorproject.org.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project