R2RSE Purpose A Bicycle Advocacy Group to: Promote the use of cycling as a vehicle to assist in the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded military veterans Provide cycling mentorship to recovering veterans Provide cycling-related equipment to selected veterans and veteran’s organizations Organize cycling events designed to promote the organization’s goals

Raise the awareness of the physical and psychological rehabilitative values of cycling among the civilian, military and wounded warrior communities

CYCLING BENEFITS TO WOUNDED VETERANS An activity most patients can participate in Cycling strengthens muscle tissue and helps reduce stress, depression, and anxiety (PTSD) Exercise promotes relaxation and improves the quality of sleep thereby helping recovery from traumatic or psychological injury Exercise helps generate new brain cells and may reverse some consequences of traumatic brain injury Group activity helps improve resocialization and reintegration into society by providing a sense of accomplishment, camaraderie, pride, and normalcy Continued participation in cycling leads to a healthy lifestyle that continues to improve overall health long after an individual recovers from his physical or psychological wounds

R2RSE Goals Work with local cycling clubs, veteran’s organizations, military Warrior Transition Units (WTUs), and selected sponsors throughout the Southeast (FL, GA, AL, SC, NC, TN, KY) to organize cycling programs and events designed to support and assist the recovery of wounded veterans. Establish an active cycling mentorship program for veterans that improves cycling skills and physical conditioning, promotes bicycle etiquette and safety, and encourages cycling and physical activity as a way of life. Create outreach programs in local communities designed to help wounded veterans recover and gain better quality of life through cycling and fitness activities. Secure funding for R2RSE programs from community sponsors, organized cycling events, and charitable donations. Create and sustain a sponsorship base that will keep R2RSE financially viable. Promote the activities of R2RSE through all available media resources.

R2RSE Objectives Provide bicycles and cycling-related equipment to selected wounded veterans Coordinate monthly organized rides throughout the Southeast that promote organizational goals, provide the opportunity to introduce recovering veterans to the benefits of cycling, and build camaraderie among all participants. Conduct an annual R2RSE fund-raising cycling event that promotes R2RSE’s goals, promotes esprit, and provides cycling opportunities for all participants. Coordinate a cycling event (Cyclefest) in every state throughout the Southeast that generates revenue to support R2RSE programs and raises the awareness of the physical and psychological rehabilitative values of cycling among the civilian, military and wounded warrior communities. Assist R2R staff with the organization, planning, and operation of the Florida Challenge cycling event. Liaise with local cycling clubs, cycling event organizers, and businesses to secure discounts for recovering veterans.

2010 R2RFL Accomplishments Ride 2 Recovery of Florida Organizes August 2010 Ft Benning Warrior Transition Battalion Organized an active cycling organization Provided mentors to warrior cyclists Arranged for participation in the Pine Mountain Challenge (Sep 25, 2010) Ride for the River (Nov 13, 2010 ) Florida Challenge (Nov 15-22, 2010) Ft Stewart Warrior Transition Battalion Arranged for participation in Ride for the River (Nov 13, 2010)

Established A Full Time Partnership with the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Florida Seminole Cyclefest (17 October 2010) 85 participants (wounded warriors and the general public) Generated funds to sustain the objectives of R2RFL The Florida Challenge (15 November – 22 November 2010) Supported R2R’s annual 6 day ride from Tampa to Jacksonville Mentored/supported 150 wounded warriors participants

2011 R2RSE Goals Successfully Transition R2RFL Programs & Activities into R2RSE (accomplished) Establish Active Cycling Programs for the Warrior Transition Units at: Ft Stewart, GA (accomplished) Ft Gordon, GA (working) Ft Jackson, SC (accomplished) Ft Bragg, NC (working) Camp Lejeune, NC Ft Campbell, KY (accomplished Ft Knox, KY (accomplished) Continue Support for Ft Benning's WW cycling program (working) Acquire a dedicated local sponsor for each WTU cycling program Create and sustain a diverse sponsorship base that will keep R2RSE and WTU cycling programs financially viable (accomplished FSG, FKK & FJSC; working FBG) Coordinate the acquisition of an adequate number of bicycles for every WTU in the Southeast and R2RSE (orchestrated the acquisition of bikes for FSG, FBG, and FJSC) Conduct a Weekend Cycling Seminar for wounded warriors that provides practice in group riding skills and instruction on cycling techniques, safety, etiquette, maintenance and proper nutrition. (location & date TBD)

Conduct the Annual R2RSE Recreational Cycling Event Use proceeds to further R2RSE objectives Coordinate Monthly Rides Coordinate wounded warrior participation in scheduled recreational rides at different venues through the Southeast Select rides that provide routes of differing lengths, and promote esprit, camaraderie, and fellowship among all participants and local communities Assign mentors to each route so that “no man may be left behind” Completed Events: Southern Pride AG Ride Screven, GA 19 Mar Wheels of Fire Hamilton, GA 2 Apr Tri-States 100 Dothan, AL 3 Apr Boll Weevil 100 Enterprise, AL 14 May Tour de Moose Robins AFB, GA 21 May Chatham 3Ring Cycle Pittsboro, NC 11 June BRAG Hinesville, GA 11 June Bike Ride Across Wilson Co Lebannon, TN 13 Aug Flight of the Dove Clinton, SC 20 Aug Sunrise Century Bike Tour Clarksville, TN 3 Sep Savannah Century Savannah, GA 4 Sep Assault on Little Mountain Little Mountain, SC 10 Sep Share the Road Tour Elizabethtown, KY 17 Sep Current Invitations: Hardy 100 Harlem, GA 9 Oct Working: Pine Mountain Challenge Columbus, GA 29 Oct Rivers Bridge Ramble Orangeburg, SC 5 Nov Ride for the River Jesup, GA 21 Nov

Coordinate an annual Cyclefest in each state throughout the region Florida (Plant City completed Jan 15) (Seminole completed Oct 2) Georgia Alabama South Carolina – (Columbia completed Oct 1) North Carolina – Fayetteville/Ft Bragg (Nov 5) Tennessee (completed April 9) Kentucky (working – 2012 Heartland Festival) Further develop the ability to provide cycling opportunities to WWs in the VA Healthcare System, WWs serving in Southeast Area National Guard Units, and WWs who have reentered mainstream society Support R2R’s 9/11 American Challenge (completed Sep 11 – 18; NYC – Shanksville, PA – Pentagon) and Florida Challenge (Oct 24 – 30; Jacksonville NAS – MacDill AFB) Acquire a sponsorship base that will permit R2RSE to fund its WW cycling programs (Progold Lubricants) Select “Flagship” Cycling Events for promotion in 2012 (Boll Weevil 100; Flight of the Dove; yet to be named 3 rd event)