On September 11, as Americans commemorate the tenth anniversary of that fateful day, more than 350 9/11 first responders, injured veterans, victims’ family members and supporters will embark on a 540-mile Ride 2 Recovery (R2R) bicycle trip to visit each crash site.
Riders will begin the eight-day trek at Liberty State Park on New York Harbor, peddle to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and finish at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., reports Caroline May on the news website the Daily Caller.
“Anyone can cycle. We adapt bikes for these healing heroes so they can once again find the physical and mental outlet, whether alone or in groups,” said John Wordin, president and founder of R2R.
“As they rebuild strength and conditioning, they are also healing the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and depression,” Wordin said. “Cycling is a powerful therapeutic exercise that they can continue to do for the rest of their lives.”
Mike McNaughton, who lost his leg in Afghanistan in 2002, is now R2R’s head of veteran’s assistance.
“Everyone has a connection with 9/11,” McNaughton said. “We wanted to do something to honor the men and women that died on 9/11. We will visit the sites, say a little prayer and just realize what really happened that day.”
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