June 2, 2010 - Oakland, CA – Brad White and Matt Crane of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis will join participants in the Ride2Recovery Memorial Challenge, which is sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, this Friday, June 4.
The seven-day Ride2Recovery, which began on Memorial Day in Washington, D.C. and ends Sunday, June 6, in Virginia Beach, works to improve the health and wellness of injured veterans through cycling. The Executive Director of the ride is John Wordin, the former director of the powerhouse Mercury Cycling Team.
Brad WhiteFor White, participation in the Ride2Recovery will have personal meaning.
“My brother is in the Air Force and he’s been stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan,” White said. “While thankfully he hasn’t been wounded, he has friends who have been. This is a cool way to help out injured veterans through something we love to do. I’m very close to my brother, and I know if he was wounded, it would be a very emotional thing for all of us. The ride will give me the opportunity to talk with some wounded veterans and maybe get an idea of what my brother is experiencing.”
Ride2Recovery GroupWhite and Crane will join the 150-strong group on Friday for a 60-mile ride from colonial Williamsburg to Virginia Beach. That group will include Quad Amputee Delvin McMillian, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Patricia S. Collins, Navy Cross recipient Jeremiah Workman, and National R2R Spokesman Nathan Hunt.
Actor Mike Vogel (Miami Medic
al, Cloverfield) is riding once again with the wounded warriors in honor of his cousin and grandfathers. U.S. Cycling Hall of Fame member and long-time Shimano executive, Wayne Stetina, who is also part of the Ride2Recovery team, is mentoring riders and helping to lead the ride.
Matt Crane“In terms of just supporting veterans, we owe them a tremendous debt for the liberties they protect, especially those who gave their lives” Crane said. “I’m very happy to support Ride2Recovery and the vets it benefits. We’ll be able to meet some of them face to face and to tell them in person how much we appreciate their service and sacrifices. I’m looking forward to it.”
Team Photos: Jonathan Devich, Epic Images
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