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WASHINGTON D.C. (May 20, 2008) - Neither rainy May skies nor
unseasonably cool temperatures stopped cyclists from beginning the
480-mile "Road 2 Recovery" ride from Walter Reed Army Medical
Center here to Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., today.
Through bicycling, the Road 2 Recovery organization assists
veterans with mental and physical rehabilitation.
About 20 cyclists, including six wounded warriors from Walter
Reed and three from Fort Bragg, N.C., gathered at the Mologne House
on the Walter Reed campus for well-wishes before heading south.
The journey is more than just the physical challenge it
represents for many of the recovering soldiers, Army Col. Patricia
D. Horoho, commander of Walter Reed Health Care System, said.
"This event really is symbolic of the road that our warriors in
transition take from the point of injury on the battlefield through
the entire journey of healing to the triumph of full recovery," she
told those gathered to see the cyclists off. "This is truly a
testament of their courage and commitment to take control of their
lives as they continue the healing journey."
America is doing its best to bolster that courage, said Allison
Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal
communication and public liaison.
"We hope you feel embraced by the American people, who every day
are trying to find ways to communicate one message to you," the
deputy assistant secretary. "That message is: America does support
you."
The riders are sure to feel that embrace as they make their way
south. Bicyclists are expected to join them at different stages of
the ride, including some stars in the cycling community.
"We're very excited about the ride," said John Wordin, founder
of Road 2 Recovery. "It's going to be an interesting challenge [for
the veterans]."
Wordin said the idea for the program originated in September,
when he was invited to do a ride with veterans from the Palo Alto,
Calif., Veterans Affairs facility who suffered from post-traumatic
stress disorder. The facility had started a cycling program as a
regular part of the patients' mental rehabilitation, he said.
"By participating in cycling, it helps speed up their recovery
process," Wordin said. "There have been a lot of studies done on
physical activity, and there are two things it does.
"One is it decreases depression," he said. "The second thing is,
by doing a physical activity it helps develop your muscles."
Army 1st Lt. Ferris Butler, soon to be promoted to captain, is
walking proof of that.
"I sat in a wheelchair for 15 months, so getting strength back
in my legs to the point where I was just able to stand under my own
weight was important," he said. "Riding a bike is no impact, and
it's just an amazing way ... to get in shape. It just really
expedited my therapy."
Butler was injured in a bomb blast on Dec. 21, 2006, in Iraq's
Sunni Triangle. He lost his left leg below the knee after an
attempt to save it failed. He also lost half of his right foot to
the explosion.
He said that, not only is biking a great way to shape up
physically, but also just getting out of the hospital for awhile is
a big lift.
"It's just so good to get out of the hospital, just leave this
place for a week or even a day," Butler said. "I don't know if I
have the expectations of making the 480 miles, but we'll see. I've
got goals for each day, and I'm just going to take it one day at a
time.
"This is just a stepping stone for me," he added.
Though he only recently received his three-wheeled bike and
didn't get a lot of road training in, Army Spc. Justin Clark said
he's planning on finishing the whole ride.
"If I don't, I'll be kind of frustrated with myself," he said in
halting speech. "But if I make it one mile, it's more than I would
have done by not doing it at all."
Clark suffered a traumatic brain and spinal cord injury when he
was electrocuted and fell south of Baghdad in 2004. He can't
remember exactly where the accident happened. His fiancee, Audrey
Proctor, has one reason for making the ride with Clark: "Because he
wanted me to do it," she said. "That was pretty much it."
She said she's confident the challenge is manageable for both of
them, she added.
If the 80-mile-a-day average turns out to be too strenuous for
any of the riders, two "sag wagons" will be available for cyclists
who need to ride for a bit. Cyclists can continue cycling when
they're ready.
The Road 2 Recovery ride concludes in Charlotte on May 25 with a
few special events, which include a celebratory lap around the
Lowe's Motor Speedway. The riders will be welcomed by cheering fans
gathered for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race that
will be run later that evening.
A tour of the garages will be followed by the opportunity to
take in the race from catbird seats in the one of the corporate
suites.
Road 2 Recovery is a supporter of America Supports You, a
Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with
servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Editor's Note: Military families can also avail
themselves of the Defense Department's America Supports You
program, which highlights home-front groups across the nation that
are providing a variety of services and support to troops and their
families. A listing of these groups and information about their
efforts is available at www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
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