[caption id=“attachment_2783” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Riders gather on Fort Myer's Whipple Field for day one of the 2010 Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge on May 31, 2010. (Ride 2 Recovery Photo by Dick Brock)”][/caption]

We’ve told you about Ride 2 Recovery before, but this week’s ride is really special.  They began their ride on Memorial Day at Fort Myer’s Whipple Field, these wounded warriors.  And along the 350-mile trek they’re being joined by special guest riders, including Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George Casey Jr., and the USO’s own Sloan Gibson.

“I stepped on a land mine in Vietnam,” said Jim Penseyres to News Channel 8.  Jim Penseyres returned from Vietnam without a leg. He transformed himself into an elite ultramarathon cyclist, who for the next several days will steer for Commander Scotty Smiley. “Oh, this is great. This is what I’ve waited 42 years to do,” shared Penseyres.  “It’s a continual recovery process. I think every day we take one foot and step it in front of the other, that we are continuing in that recovery,” said Smiley.

<!–PARA13!–>Over the course of six days, the riders will travel through Mt. Vernon, Manassas, Richmond, and end their journey in Virginia Beach on Saturday.  You can follow along at home, and even download GPS maps of their routes, by following Ride 2 Recovery’s Facebook page.  Ride safe and strong, everyone!

We have more pictures below and be sure to check out this video of the ride:

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more about “Wounded Warriors Embark on 6-Day Bike…”, posted with vodpod
[caption id=“attachment_2777” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“(L-R) The USO's John Pray, Senior Vice President, Entertainment; Jeffrey Hill, Vice President of U.S. Operations; Sloan Gibson, president and CEO; Richard Bruder, Board of Directors for USO of Illinois; and Brian Coyle, Director of Chartered Center Relations, joined the first day of Ride 2 Recovery's 2010 Memorial Challenge, traveling 48.5 miles from Arlington, Va. to Manassass, Va. (Ride 2 Recovery Photo by Dick Brock)”][/caption]
[caption id=“attachment_2778” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Riders travel down a Virginia hill on May 31, 2010, for day one of the 6-day Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge, sponsored by United Healthcare and the USO. (Ride 2 Recovery Photo by Dick Brock)”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2780” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“(L-R) Admiral Gary Roughead, chief of US naval operations; Delvin McMillian, a retired airmen who lost his legs and an arm to a virus; General Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff; and General George Casey, Army Chief of Staff gather on Fort Myer to kick off the 2010 Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge on May 31. (Ride 2 Recovery Photo by Dick Brock)”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2779” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Over 200 Wounded Warriors gathered on May 31, 2010, to ride in the 6-day Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge, sponsored by United Healthcare and the USO. (Ride 2 Recovery Photo by Dick Brock)”][/caption]