“Lake Havasu Todays News Herald” |
| Lake Havasu Todays News Herald Posted: 26 Dec 2010 06:22 AM PST By NATHAN BRUTTELL The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride is coming back to Lake Havasu City. The annual Soldier Ride is a cycling event designed to rehabilitate wounded soldiers both mentally and physically on a trek from Las Vegas to Phoenix. The rides also raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project mission to serve injured soldiers and their families, and in turn raise money through sponsorships, pledges and donations. The ride has included a stop in Lake Havasu City for the last two years, and the group has enjoyed the trips so much that a return was an easy choice, ride representatives said recently."I'm very excited they're coming back again," said Larry Robinson, Lake Havasu City Freedom Bridge Foundation executive director. "This year of course we had the wounded warriors here for (Relics and Rods), and we wanted to make sure they were received, as always, with a lot of excitement. … I think this is going to give people a great chance to see some real American heroes and show our support." While the Wounded Warrior riders are expected to arrive Wednesday afternoon with an escort by the Lake Havasu Patriot Guard Riders, residents are urged to welcome the group at about 6 p.m. Dec. 1 upon their arrival at the Hampton Inn. The ride is expected to start around 9 a.m. Dec. 2, and FBF representatives say residents will have a "great chance" to show support at around 11 a.m. at The Shops at Havasu where Mayor Mark Nexsen is expected to speak to the group at the fountain. "That would be the best time to meet them if people want to talk with them," Robinson said. "It's going to be much more relaxed than the last few times they've been here, so it will be a great time for people to show appreciation personally." For those looking to do a little more, FBF representatives say there will be opportunities. "A limited number of Lake Havasu residents are invited, for a donation of $15, to ride along with the Wounded Warriors," said Margaret Nyberg, Freedom Bridge Foundation president, in a press release. "Only 15 people will be able to ride along with the Wounded Warriors. All donations will go to the Wounded Warrior Project." Residents will be able to sign-up at about 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Hampton Inn, officials said. National Wounded Warrior Tour Director Woody Groton said in 2009 they could not pass up the opportunity to come back after the first visit in 2008. "There was this incredible ceremony last year and the reception just blew us away," Groton said in 2009. "It was a no-brainer that we would be back ... Lake Havasu City is kind of like the Veterans capital of the West." The soldiers are set to leave for Phoenix after the end of their ride Dec. 2, and FBF Volunteer Coordinator Richard Heckart said he urges residents to come out in support, as "the WWP is changing their Soldier Ride schedules and Havasu may not be on the schedule next year," according to the press release. For more information about the Wounded Warrior Project, residents are asked to visit http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org. For more information on the Freedom Bridge Foundation, residents are asked to visit www.havasufreedombridge.com. You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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