President Barack Obama speaks with spectators after the cyclists have set off on the Soldier Ride. (Nick Kariuki/MEDILL)
WASHINGTON — Under clear skies, President Obama blasted an air horn Thursday to start the Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride from the White House’s South Lawn.
Speaking before the bikes rolled out, Obama said the event was “a chance to say to all the returning heroes that you’re not alone. That we’ve got your back. We’re going to be with you every step of the way.”
The nationwide, annual ride offers wounded service members and veterans the chance to salve the physical, mental and emotional wounds they may have suffered through cycling and the common bond of military service.
Over 50 riders from all branches of the armed forces signed up for the three-day, 60 mile challenge, many riding on adaptive bicycles.
Obama was joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald. This year marked the sixth time that the event was welcomed to the White House.
The first Soldier Ride was in 2004 when Chris Carney, a Long Island, New York, bartender, biked across the country to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that supports injured troops.
The WWP claims over 68,000 alumni and more than 10,500 family members involved, as of April 1.
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Wounded Marines are competing at Camp Pendleton this week for a spot in the nationwide 2013 Wounded Warriors games. Athletes train and compete in several games throughout the year to make their way to the top competition. “It’s just kind of getting me back to being normal,” says Sgt. Kaleb Weakley, whose femur was shattered by a gunshot wound in Afghanistan a year ago. 
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