Saturday, October 29, 2011

Bicycle trek helps veterans down road to recovery

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Cyclists make their way to Winter Haven from Orlando during the Ride 2 Recovery Florida Challenge. More than 200 cyclists, mostly injured veterans from across the country, took part in the 350-mile seven-day trip from Jacksonville to Tampa.

More than 200 cyclists, mostly injured military veterans, set out to cross Florida coast to coast in seven days. They took part in the 350-mile Ride 2 Recovery Florida Challenge from Jacksonville to Tampa to raise money for veteran rehabilitation programs across the country.

The group stopped this weekend in Orlando. They had dinner at the American Legion Post 286 on Friday and rode 44 miles to Winter Haven on Saturday. They plan to end their trek today in Tampa.

"Yes, we're injured and gave up part of our life. But we're still living our lives to the fullest," said Army Sgt. Nathan Hunt before setting off Saturday from the Sheraton Safari Hotel near Walt Disney World.

In 2008, he lost both legs from a blast in Iraq. Hunt, who served in the military for about a decade, said he got on a hand cycle that September. The following spring, he took part in his first Ride 2 Recovery.

Read more here: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-injured-veterans-ri...