Aug 27, 2008

Wounded Warrior Unity Tour 2008

800+ mile bicycle tour from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Fort Eustis, Virginia, then an additional 200+ miles to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC to benefit Wounded Warriors and their families

A group of military Servicemembers, Department of Defense employees, and family members will ride  800+ miles from Fort Campbell, Kentucky to Fort Eustis, Virginia from 18-25 September 2008 and then an additional 220 miles from Ft. Eustis, Virginia to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. starting Saturday, 27 September, and ending Sunday, 28 September, 2008. The total mileage upon completion is 1000+ miles.

The event, hosted by the Armed Forces Cycling Association (AFCA), aims to raise awareness of the continued support needed for military Servicemembers that have been injured while honorably serving overseas and the much needed support of their families.

While the goal is to remind the public to keep these fighting men and women in their thoughts, the ride also aims to raise money for the Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Walter Reed Fisher Houses. The Fisher House Foundation builds comfortable homes and lodging on the grounds of military hospitals and VA medical centers to enable family members to remain close to a loved one while the Servicemember recuperates from his or her wounds.

Donations to this important cause will be split between the Fort Campbell Fisher House and the Walter Reed Fisher House when mentioning the Fort Campbell riders; otherwise all of your donation will go to the Walter Reed Fisher House in Washington D.C. To make a donation to this important cause, visit www.afca.us and mention the Fort Campbell riders. The AFCA is also seeking any donations and contributions to support the Fort Campbell riders on their journey. The donations will help offset expenses such as gas for the privately owned escort vehicles, food, lodging, nutritional supplements (gels, drink powders, energy bars, etc.), and expendable items (tires, inner tubes, bicycle maintenance parts) for the entire tour to include the vehicle ride home. If you would like to make a donation, please contact James Beere at wwut2008fc@hotmail.com.

Individual cyclists and cycling groups are welcome to come out and join us along our route to show support for this great cause. If you would like to ride with the tour, please wear a bicycle helmet and abide by all state and local laws concerning cyclists. If, at any time you are disrespectful to the other riders within the group or ride in an unsafe manner, you will be asked to leave the body of the group. You can view the route by visiting www.mapmyride.com and click on the “Search for Rides” link, then type “Wounded Warrior Unity Tour 2008 FC” as the search criteria. Day 1 through Day 10 routes are listed for the 1000+ mile journey. State, local, and county governments are graciously supporting the riders by providing various escort duties for the riders with police, sheriff, and/or fire-EMS vehicles.

Rest stops will be approximately every 25 miles with most of the stops taking place at local monuments such as a town square or fountain, Lee Plaza in Roanoke, Overlord Circle (National D-Day Memorial dedicated to those who served in Operation Overlord during WWII) in Bedford, Virginia and the Terrace Monument (where each step is dedicated to those who have served in different campaigns throughout history) in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Military riders are asked to showcase their service affiliation by wearing military branch bike jerseys. Department of Defense civilians, family members, and friends participating are encouraged to wear a jersey representative of the military branch they are supporting. Many of these jerseys can be ordered at your local bike shop and can also be found through several of the online bicycle “super stores”.

This marks the first annual Wounded Warriors ride from Fort Campbell to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the second annual Wounded Warriors ride from Fort Eustis to Walter Reed.

A quick break down of the daily rides and locations are as follows:

Day 1:

On September 18, 2008 the riders will commence the bicycle journey from the Fort Campbell, Kentucky Fisher House to Glasgow, Kentucky with stops in Elkton, Auburn, and Bowling Green for a total of 105 miles.

Day 2:

On September 19, 2008 the riders will journey from Glasgow, Kentucky to London, Kentucky with stops in Edmonton, Columbia, and Windsor for a total of 121 miles.

Day 3:

On September 20, 2008 the riders will journey from London, Kentucky to Hazard, Kentucky with stops in Manchester and Hyden for a total of 72.66 miles.

Day 4:

On September 21, 2008 the riders will journey from Hazard, Kentucky to Abingdon, Virginia with stops in Isom, Payne Gap on the border, and Coeburn, Virginia for a total of 118 miles.

Day 5:

On September 22, 2008 the riders will journey from Abingdon, Virginia to Christiansburg, Virginia with stops in Marion, Wytheville, and Pulaski for a total of 101 miles.

Day 6:

On September 23, 2008 the riders will journey from Christiansburg, Virginia to Lynchburg, Virginia with stops in Roanoke and Bedford for a total of 86 miles.

Day 7:

On September 24, 2008 the riders will journey from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Richmond, Virginia with stops in Appomattox, Farmville, and Amelia for a total of 105 miles.

Day 8:

On September 25, 2008 the riders will begin their journey from the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia and end in Fort Eustis, Virginia with stops in Charles City and the Williamsburg area for a total of 63 miles.

On September 26, 2008 the riders will have a day to rest, conduct bicycle maintenance, and there will also be a military doctor on hand to address any medical issues. The riders will link up with the Armed Forces Cycling Association riders and other cycling groups who will have traveled from Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia and an Air National Guard Unit from California.

Day 9:

On September 27, 2008 the new group of riders will journey from Fort Eustis to Port Royal’s AP Hill in Tappahannock for a total of 113 miles.

Day 10:

On Sept. 28, the riders will journey from Port Royal up U.S. Route 1 to Walter Reed Army Medical Center with stops in Quantico Marine Base and Fort Belvoir for a total of 107 miles.

Supporting our military Servicemembers after they have returned home from honorably serving their country, especially those that have been injured while doing so, is an important and patriotic cause. You or someone you know has a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, and or friend that has honorably served the United States of America through military service, let us not forget them.

Event Email: wwut2008fc@hotmail.com, attention Estevan or James.
For more information, please contact Estevan Soto @ (270) 493-6265 or James Beere @ (931) 302-1171.

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