I have been exceptionally lucky to know some amazing people — and particularly for this post, long distance bikers. Friends who have biked for a cure for cancer, for AIDS — and I’m talking about biking a distance that spans multiple states. A college friend biked from Austin to Anchorage for Texas4000 – and the list goes on.
But what about people who embark on a long distance cycling trip for their own sake? A journey of self-discovery, or healing? My friend, Jeff, took a couple years to ride a bike from LA to the tip of Patagonia, and appeared to even further truly find himself in the process. What about those who are looking to — heal?
My friend from college, Andrea Downing, has been working with the Long Road Home Project – an organization that is supporting 5 U.S. veterans who are biking across the entire country next summer to heal their wounds from war.
The five veterans are all united by their common experience of experiencing the trauma of war, but are uniquely different in their personal stories and their specific reasons for making the the long trek. From hoping to highlight the LGBTQ diversity in the military — to those who have been disabled — to raising awareness about PTSD — and more issues that affect our servicemen and servicewomen when they return home.
The 5 veterans (pictured below) are scheduled to complete their 4,200 mile journey in Washington DC on Sunday, October 14th — you can check out their detailed itinerary here.
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Filed under: Thoughtful People Tagged: Adventure, Beauty, Biking, Community, dream of a lifetime, Entrepreneur, Equality, Hope, Human Rights, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Motivation, Non-profit, Organizing, Perseverance, Philosophy, Sports, Thoughts, Travel
