FORT BENNING, Ga., (June 25, 2014) -- The Ride Across USA team is cycling across the United States and will arrive in Columbus July 5 on its quest to raise awareness and funds for Hope for the Warriors to benefit wounded Soldiers and military Families.
The team of seven cyclists and one support and gear driver, biking in from Oxford, Alabama, will depart to their next destination, Albany, Georgia, from the National Infantry Museum at 8 a.m. July 6.
The nonprofit Hope for the Warriors, founded by Marine wives, assists post 9/11 service members, their Families and Families of the fallen.
Tracy Draper, Columbus native, team captain and organizer of Ride Across USA, said she specifically planned the route to go through Fort Benning with hopes of generating awareness and funds in her hometown.
"This is a dream of mine that I wanted to do before I turned 50," Draper said. "I didn't want to just do it for myself, but I wanted to invite other people along and get a worthwhile charity that could benefit from this."
Almost 90 percent of the money they take in goes directly to their programs, not to salaries, and that is unheard of, Draper said.
Anne Barnwell, senior communications director at Hope for the Warriors, said the Ride Across USA team has done an amazing job.
"The group of cyclists have been wonderful advocates for our military Families," Barnwell said. "We have been contacted by people almost every day along their route."
Catherine Bradshaw, traumatic brain injury nurse case manager at Martin Army Hospital and local cyclist said Fort Benning's Warrior Transition Battalion cycle team will join Ride Across USA July 6 to bike several miles.
After starting June 4 in Malibu, California, the cyclists traveled highways and country roads and logged an average of 100 miles per day at speeds averaging 18-20 miles per hour. The ride will finish July 8 in Amelia Island, Florida.
Draper said she is thankful no team member had any nagging or new injuries along the ride so far.
"I think that is an attribute to how hard we have trained for this," she said.
Totaling a little over $10,000, Ride Across USA is one-third of the way to their goal in raising $30,000.
Anyone who would like to ride alongside the Ride Across USA team for a few miles when they arrive, can contact Ride on Bikes at 706-324-1132 or visit them at 1036 Broadway, Columbus. To donate to Hope for the Warriors or check on their progress by GPS tracker, visit www.rideacrossusa.com.
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