Wounded military personnel bike through Florida Keys

Author: Associated Press
Published:
In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, injured military personnel including Army Staff Sgt. Sam Oelke, left, retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Caudillo, right, and other wounded military personnel ride bicycles on the Seven Mile Bridge during the Florida Keys Soldier Ride Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, near Marathon, Fla. Some 45 men and women are riding bicycles down segments of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway as a facet of an effort organized by the Wounded Warrior Project to raise public awareness and support for the needs of severely injured members of the U.S. military. Photo via AP.
In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, injured military personnel including Army Staff Sgt. Sam Oelke, left, retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Caudillo, right, and other wounded military personnel ride bicycles on the Seven Mile Bridge during the Florida Keys Soldier Ride Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, near Marathon, Fla. Some 45 men and women are riding bicycles down segments of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway as a facet of an effort organized by the Wounded Warrior Project to raise public awareness and support for the needs of severely injured members of the U.S. military. Photo via AP.

Wounded military personnel and their supporters have bicycled across the Seven Mile Bridge and sections of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway during the annual Soldier Ride event from Key Largo to Key West.

Some 45 individuals are participating in the event, which continues through Sunday. It’s organized by the Wounded Warrior Project to raise funds for injured comrades recovering in American military hospitals.

Injured military personnel ride bicycles by elementary school children and teachers during the Florida Keys Soldier Ride Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, in Marathon, Fla. Photo via AP.
Injured military personnel ride bicycles by elementary school children and teachers during the Florida Keys Soldier Ride Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, in Marathon, Fla. Photo via AP.

Although some riders are missing one or more limbs from combat injuries, they use specially adapted bicycles.

The effort provides physical rehabilitation for injured soldiers, helps raise funds to foster veterans’ independence and develops peer-mentoring programs.

The group is set to ride throughout Key West’s Old town on Saturday, and they are scheduled to interact with dolphins Sunday at the Marathon-based Dolphin Research Center Sunday.

Online: Wounded Warrior Project, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

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