Military veterans and soldiers to ride hand cycles, recumbents and traditional street bikes
EDINA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- More than 150 cyclists will set off on Monday, Aug. 23, on the Ride 2 Recovery Great Lakes Challenge from the UnitedHealthcare office in Edina, Minn., for a seven-day, 430-mile ride.
The wounded warriors, and others riding in support, will arrive at the American Legion National Conference in Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 29.
The Ride 2 Recovery Great Lakes Challenge, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, supports R2R indoor Spinning® Recovery Labs and outdoor cycling programs at Military and Veterans Affairs locations around the U.S., aiding the rehabilitation and recovery efforts of injured veterans.
“The Ride 2 Recovery Great Lakes Challenge helps support important health programs for men and women who served our country, so we are honored to be able to serve them through this sponsorship,” said Fo Burke, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Public Sector. “Exercise and rehabilitation services are critically important to help injured veterans enjoy a return to the health and well-being they richly deserve.”
The bicycle ride will begin 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23, at the UnitedHealthcare office and end Sunday, Aug. 29, in Milwaukee. The United Service Organizations (USO) will support the daily rest stops with the mobile USO Canteen. The American Legion riders will provide a motorcycle escort each day during the event, and the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary will sponsor dinners and community events for the riders as they make their way across Wisconsin.
Notable participants include National R2R Spokesman and Purple Heart Recipient SGT-Ret. Nathan Hunt, USMC Navy Cross Recipient Jeremiah Workman (Iraq) and other wounded warriors from wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Great Lakes Challenge cyclists will ride through dairy farms and the Northwoods, and make a brief stop in Green Bay to watch the Thursday night Packers game against the Indianapolis Colts. The cyclists will then ride along the coast of Lake Michigan to Milwaukee where they will cross the finish at the American Legion National Conference, located at the Milwaukee Convention Center.
Other highlights along the route include school visits, welcome parades, and community events sponsored by the USO and the American Legion Family. Schools, community groups and the public are encouraged to gather along the daily routes to recognize the sacrifices of all our veterans and to support those who are riding. Event Ride Guide is posted at http://ride2recovery.com/images/stories/GLCRideGuide.pdf.
To find out more or to sign up for an upcoming ride, please visit www.ride2recovery.com.
About R2R
Ride 2 Recovery improves the health and wellness of injured veterans through cycling. Cycling is an important part of the recovery process because it is an activity that almost all patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate, and it helps to speed up the rehabilitation process.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare (www.unitedhealthcare.com) provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of more than 25 million individual consumers, contracting directly with more than 600,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.
CONTACT:
UnitedHealthcare
Will Holman, 952-992-4270
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: United States North America Minnesota Wisconsin
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Women Health Hospitals Philanthropy Other Philanthropy Consumer Sports Family Biking/Cycling Foundation Fund Raising Men
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