Road 2 Recovery - Making a Difference in the Lives of Vets

The Road 2 Recovery is produced by the Fitness Challenge Foundation, (501C3) in partnership with the VA Volunteer Service Office, to benefit Mental and Physical Rehabilitation Programs that feature cycling as the core activity.

Stars to support Veterans on the Road 2 Recovery

Actor Mike Vogel (Cloverfield), chair of this year's VA National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, is joining disabled veterans, cycling legends and supporters in the 2008 Road 2 Recovery fund-raising rides for cyclists along both coasts of the United States.

Held in partnership with the Fitness Challenge Foundation, the R2R will raise money to support Spinning® and outdoor cycling programs at Military and VA locations around the U.S. to help injured veterans overcome obstacles they face. Cycling is an important part of the recovery and rehabilitation program for two reasons:
1.Cycling is an activity that almost all patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate.
2.Participation in the Road 2 Recovery Program helps speed up the recovery and rehabilitation process.

Read the USA Today Road 2 Recovery Blog by Sal Ruibal

The program will feature veterans, celebrities, athletes, and hundreds/thousands of participants coming together to help injured heroes return to a life free of the mental and physical toll that they have taken. Among those that are involved in the project include: 3 time Tour de France Champion Greg LeMond, Tour de France and Hip replacement Cyclist Floyd Landis, VA Volunteer Service Office, Afghanistan/ Iraq veterans Mike McNaughton and Major Jason Bryan (VeloNews fame), Olympic Silver Medalist and World Cycling Champion Mari Holden, former 7-11 rider Thomas Craven, and Olympic cyclist Wayne Stetina. Riders will donate a minimum amount in order to participate in a ride. Tour packages will be available to top fundraisers and special awards/prizes will also be given. Read More:

The East Coast Ride began on Tuesday, May 20 at 10:30 am in front of the Malone House at Walter Reed. The West Coast ride begins Sept. 28 - Oct. 4.

Photo Slideshow

Click here to see other video and press links:

Read the Ride Blog:

How Can I Help?

1. Make a Donation Now (Your Donation is Tax Deductible)

Sponsor a Rider
You can read about some of the participants in our Profiles in Courage section below.

Join the ride

There are supported tours and 1 day rides that will be an experience of a lifetime!

Mission Statement

To help make a difference in the lives of vets by assisting in their mental and physical rehabilitation programs.

Goals

	Provide financial assistance for VA/Military Cycling Rehab Programs
	Provide equipment, clinics, and outings for Vets
	Improve morale

Profiles in Courage

On March 4, I witnessed U.S. Army Captain Ferris Butler climb the steep pitches of Sherrill Street. You won't find that climb on the route maps of Le Tour and it is of significance only to the riders who spin in and out of Washington, D.C.'s Rock Creek Park.

Capt. Butler made that climb on his bike just 30 days after his war-damaged left leg was amputated. He fought to save it, enduring 50 surgeries before it was replaced with a carbon-fiber surrogate. He also lost half of his right foot.

Capt. Butler is just starting down the difficult road that they've already traveled. He calls his prosthetic his "first leg" because it is the first of what will be a long series of refittings necessitated by the difficulty of matching flesh-and-bone with plastic, carbon-fiber and titanium.

But riding a bike is a great start. Right now, he's using a wheelchair to get around because walking is much more difficult for him than riding a bike. In time, he'll be able to do both.

Capt. Butler is just one of thousands of U.S. warriors who will go down that path. Thanks to the efforts of military medical support and follow-up care by the Veteran's Administration these heroes are receiving the care they not only need, but also deserve.

Sal Ruibal USA Today