Wounded Warrior Project launches cycling relay from Las Vegas to Phoenix
Approximately 20 veterans begin a multi-day ride aimed at recovery, with a second team continuing the route to Los Angeles.
By Lucas Collins ·
Wounded Warrior Project and the National Football League have coordinated a multi-day cycling event that begins at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and proceeds to Phoenix. The initiative, designated as Soldier Ride, relies on relay teams to cover the distance.
About 20 veterans departed from Las Vegas to start the first leg of the journey. A second group of riders will pick up the route in Phoenix and continue cycling to Los Angeles. The two segments connect to form a longer trek across the Southwest.
The organization states that the primary objective is communal recovery rather than competitive speed. Many participants carry visible physical injuries or psychological wounds that are not immediately apparent. The event structure allows riders to support one another during the physical demands of the trip.
Lt. Gen. Walt Pyatt, CEO of Wounded Warrior Project, addressed the challenges veterans face after returning from service. “For warriors, every warrior, whether they have a physical wound that you can see or an invisible wound, it shouldn’t be harder to come home than it is to go, but it is,” Pyatt said. “Most warriors come back, but they don’t truly come home. Wounded Warrior Project, we’re committed to finding every warrior everywhere and bringing them home, mind, body and soul.”
The nonprofit offers free registration for these programs to any post-9/11 veteran. Interested individuals can sign up for current or future Soldier Rides through the Wounded Warrior Project website.
