Wounded Vets to Take Bike Tour on Thursday

Nearly 30 injured American ware veterans on Thursday will embark on a  three-day Lowcountry bicycle ride to raise community support and awareness for the sacrifices made by servicemen and women.

The ride starts in Mount Pleasant at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Memorial Waterfront Park, making stops at The Citadel and the VA Medical Center in Charleston, among other stops.

Lowcountry residents are invited to show their support for the cyclists along the route. Here's the schedule:

8:30 a.m. Thursday - Nearly 30 Wounded Warriors will gather at Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant to begin their journey.  Participants will bike across the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge to The Citadel.

10:00 a.m. - Cyclists will participate in a ceremony at The Citadel, then proceed to the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.

11:45 p.m. - The Wounded Warriors will enjoy lunch at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, participate in a seminar for wounded warriors, then meet with wounded troops and veterans.  After departing the facility, they will continue their journey across the peninsula before crossing the Ravenel Bridge once more.

3:00 p.m. - Participants will arrive at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. During their visit, these heroes will have the opportunity to tour the museum free of charge. 

6:30 p.m. - The tour will conclude at the VFW Isle of Palms Post, where the cyclists will enjoy dinner and an opportunity to meet with other veterans.

Friday- Cycling begins at the Holiday Inn Express in Moncks Corner, with day two ending at Santee Cooper Park. March 16, cycling begins at Crabtree Park at The Market Commons with a stop at Beach Bike Shop on Broadway St, ending day three at Valor Park at The Market Commons.

This is not a typical bicycle ride; it is an adaptive cycling event, organizers say. Many of the participants use specially designed adaptive bicycles, which are provided by The Warrior Ride.

The Warrior Ride is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that uses adaptive bicycling and other morale building events as a tool for recreation and rehabilitation for our injured heroes.

There is no cost to the service member to participate in The Warrior Ride events. All expenses are paid through donations and grants.

The Warrior Ride South Carolina Tour will mark the debut of their tandem recumbent. The two-seat recumbent is the latest addition to The Warrior Ride inventory. It's a single and tandem recumbent that has been customized for injured service members. During the South Carolina ride, the rear seat will be occupied by a blind Special Forces captain; this will be his first time on a tandem recumbent.

The Rides are coordinated by Bob and Debra Racine from Oak Island, NC. They are the founders of The Warrior Ride. Bob and Debra held their first adaptive cycling event in 2005. They knew from that very first event that adaptive cycling presented itself as a tool for recreation and rehabilitation for injured service members. Adapting bicycles to injuries can be challenging, but they make it work.

Bob Racine is a Vietnam Veteran and understands the sacrifices made every day by our servicemen and woman. Bob and his wife Debra have dedicated their lives to helping injured service members.