Ride 2 Recovery's Gulf Coast Challenge continues
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A couple of years ago, Adam McCann was an injured veteran looking for something missing in his life.
“I was struggling to find a sport I could do,” he said. “Another veteran was, like, ‘Have you tried cycling?’ ”
McCann, a native of Cleveland, said he had never cycled in his life on the day he was introduced to Ride 2 Recovery.
“I do about 4,000 miles a year now,” he said.
Ride 2 Recovery is a program created to help military members injured in the line of duty rehabilitate their bodies and their minds through biking.
Since he became a rider and now a team leader, McCann said he’s lost 40 pounds, greatly strengthened his injured legs and gained much through the camaraderie afforded by Ride 2 Recovery.
“It’s helped me physically and it’s helped me mentally being around guys and girls in the same situation I’m in,” he said.
On Wednesday, 180 Ride 2 Recovery cyclists completed a 74-mile trip from Orange Beach, Ala., to Okaloosa Island. Accompanied by an entourage of volunteer escorts and shepherded by local sheriff’s deputies, they were encouraged by well-wishers all along their route and slowed for part of the journey by an overmatched reporter.
“Hurtin’,” was how bicyclist Doug Edwards described the experience after he arrived at Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, the day’s destination.
Wednesday’s ride was one leg of the 395-mile United Health Care Gulf Coast Challenge, the first of seven 350- to 400-mile Ride 2 Recovery challenges this year, according to event spokeswoman Debora Spano.
Riders began their trek in New Orleans and will finish the challenge Friday in Tallahassee.
There were some spills along the way Wednesday, and not everyone could endure the full trip.
One careless motorist in Mary Esther nearly bowling-pinned about a dozen cyclists.
But for the most part the wind blew the bikers in the right direction and the military communities between Pensacola and Okaloosa Island seemed to revel in taking a minute to honor their injured heroes.
One particularly awe-inspiring moment came as they passed Florosa Elementary School, where it appeared that every student and teacher had turned out with American flags to cheer and wave on the group.
“The folks along the Gulf Coast are extremely welcoming,” Spano said. “We’ve had city officials, mayors, welcome us all along. The hotels, everyone has just been great.”
The cyclists include injured active duty, those being treated at a transition unit or hospital, and those who have left the service, Spano said.
“It’s good to have all these stages. They can help each other through it,” she said.
To be accepted as a rider, the wounded warrior must be fit enough to endure the trips, said Robert Keating, another riding team leader. Riders are also schooled in efficient cycling techniques.
Keating said there were 80 new riders with the group Wednesday. It was one of the largest groups of new Riders 2 Recovery participants, he said.
The Department of Defense provides funding to buy the bikes for military installations, Spano said.
“After you do so many challenges you get to keep your bike.”
tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com
