Wounded veterans will have the opportunity next month to take part in an adaptive cycling event in their honor all over Santa RosaCounty. The event runs February 24 to 27 with the ride taking place over three days. All veterans and public service people are invited to ride with the group Thursday through Saturday, while the rest of the community may join in Saturday only. Wounded veteran, Harry Carr, brings the event to Santa RosaCounty, where it’s called the Tour de Sunshine.
Carr served with the Air Force for nine years active and four years in reserve as a Titan-2 missile maintenance technician. He served at Hurlburt Field, ended up in North Carolina, and moved to Milton last November. He said, “Unlike Wounded Warriors, we dedicate to all eras, not just post 9/11. What we do is we rehab through cycling.”
Tom Martin, Steve Keifer, and Ken Scott all volunteer in North Carolina for The Warrior Ride, where it started. They visited SRC to help Carr set up the local ride. Keifer is a 100 percent disabled retired Navy veteran, Scott a retired naval helicopter aviator with four years of service, and Martin served in the Army, Marine Corps, and was a police officer. Carr served in the Air Force nine years active and four in reserve as a Titan II missile maintenance technician before he was wounded, losing part of his vision.
The ride is not a race. “Warriors helping warriors,” is the ride’s motto. Carr said riders go as fast as the slowest member. “We leave no one behind,” Martins said. It’s a team building event. Carr said, “We start as one and finish as one.”
The Tour de Sunshine’s community components involve stopping at schools along the ride to meet with elementary and middle school students, as well as inviting other community members to join parts of the ride. Carr said he’s getting multiple schools lined up for visits. Scott added the riders appreciate the school visits because all the communication “helps get a sense of self back.”
Want to go?
What: The Warrior Ride – Tour de Sunshine
When: February 24 to 27
Where: Register at www.TheWarriorRide.org by February 11, Ride will take place throughout Santa RosaCounty covering 100 miles with stops at schools
Cost: $25 for veterans, $35 for community participants. See the website for more details.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Century ride offers wounded vets rehabilitative opportunity