Veterans Take On The Great Outdoors In Soldier Ride Colorado Springs

Wounded Warrior Project event returns to the bicycle-friendly city June 25-27

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Jun 02, 2015, 10:38 ET

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 50 injured service members will embark on an inspirational, 40-mile journey through the peaks and valleys of Colorado Springs during Wounded Warrior Project^®(WWP) Soldier Ride^® presented by USAA^®. The rehabilitative cycling event returns to the Rocky Mountain State Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27.

Soldier Ride often serves as an introductory program to WWP veterans. The national program brings together servicemen and women for a long weekend focused on physical health, wellness, camaraderie, and healing. In addition to cycling, they will also participate in team building and adaptive sports while bonding over their common experiences. The life-changing program teaches coping skills to help veterans with mental and physical wounds on their journey to recovery.

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 15 miles through the scenic Colorado Springs landmark Garden of the Gods. They will tackle Saturday's 25-mile ride together in Peyton. The community is invited and encouraged to come out, support our troops, and share their experience on social media with the hashtag #SoldierRideCoSp.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, June 25
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Bike Fitting
Colorado Springs Marriott
5580 Tech Center Drive
Colorado Springs, CO

Friday, June 26
9:00 AM Arrive at Wilson Park Ranch

9:30 AM
Soldier Ride – Day 1 Garden of the Gods
Wilson Park Ranch
2335 Allegheny Drive
Colorado Springs, CO

11:30 AM Ride ends at start location

Saturday, June 27
8:15 AM Arrive at Peyton High School

9:00 AM
Soldier Ride Day 2 – Peyton/Falcon Ride
Peyton High School
13885 Bradshaw Road
Peyton, CO

12:00 PM
Ride Ends
Falcon Elementary School
12050 Falcon Highway
Peyton, CO

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