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PIGG, our mascot. Click on PIGG for a new window that allows you to control him with your mouse (It may take a moment to load).


Richard Brock is raising $4000 for Ride 2 Recovery and will ride from Washington, DC to Virginia Beach, VA, in support of the program while documenting the event with photo and video.


A veteran of Iraq, Marine SSgt Jenie Kerr gives PIGG a kiss for luck, and then we're on our way in TX. About 10% of R2R participants are female.


The American Legion Riders travel with us the entire route and provide us a rolling enclosure of safety from cars and trucks.


Chris Roth and Mark Robinson of United HealthCare, R2R's presenting sponsor, are ready to start the journey.


Ed Reilley, board chairman, and Sloan Gibson, president of the USO, with John Wordin, R2R's founder, at the Center for the Intrepid ceremony at Ft. Hood.


Colonel David Bitterman rode with us for a few days, as he did last year.


Despite the rain, everyone finished Day 2.


Chief of Staff General George Casey, shown here with Delvin Macmillian, spent time with every injured veteran and rode his bicycle with us the entire next day.


General Gary Cheek, a great supporter and frequent rider with R2R, gives an interview for local TV coverage. General Cheek commands the Army's Trauma Units.


Delvin Macmillian and Leo Day press the flesh at Ft. Hood, as soldiers lining both sides of the street greeted all the R2R riders with high fives and cheers.


Some of the over 4 miles of soldiers lining both sides of the streets at Ft. Hood.


General David Blackledge, who was injured himself in Iraq, is another great R2R supporter and bicycle rider who leads by example.


Vietnam veteran and double-amputee Duane Wagner, threw the first pitch at the Ranger's game on Day 6. He got the ball over the plate, even though he hadn't thrown a baseball in over 35 years.


Justin Wess gets an autograph from pitching legend Nolan Ryan, who made a special visit to the R2R group and signed autographs for everyone. Thanks, Nolan!


Russ Brock, who has photographed five R2R Challenge events, grabs some breakfast before completing his average 16 hour work day.


The ScanVan prepares to leave Westminster, CA for San Antonio, TX. We had enough drivers to push straight through and make the trip in 23 hours.
Hi everyone,

The Don't Mess with Texas 2010 Challenge once again proved how extremely patriotic Texans are, and there were over 100 injured veterans who accepted the challenge. The cycling skills of our returning participants were obvious, and the new riders caught on quickly with a little on-the-job training. Most of the riders formed their own groups, and the stronger riders accepted the burden of pulling the group (breaking the wind by riding in front). We hope these photos represent the spirit of the ride's ups and downs.

Click on the appropriate links below to see photos of that day's events:


Tips:

  1. To get to the next page view, click on the appropriate page number in the lower right hand corner of the page while in the thumbnail view.

  2. If you click on a thumbnail image, it will be displayed larger, all by itself.

  3. Below the larger image is a file name. If you want a hi-res file of that image for your own use (make a print, post to your own web site or whatever), make a note of the last 4 digits of the filename. We will eventually put all hi-res files on the web, and you'll need that number in order to locate and download the hi-res file(s) you want.

  4. In the Thumbnail View, you will notice a light grey number by each image. That is for your own use in re-locating an image in the slide show. Make a note of that light grey number and the page number (shown in the lower right hand corner), and you'll always be able to get back to any image or e-mail a friend as to how to locate an image.

  5. If you have a special request, just let us know. This could be in the form of re-cropping, changing format, adding text, making a collage.. or whatever. These images are for you, and we want you to enjoy them as much as possible.

High Resolution Images

  1. In order to make hard copy photos from your favoriate images, you'll need the high resolution files.

  2. In order to download the high resolution file(s) you want, you'll need the last 4 digits of the file name from section Tips(3) above.

  3. Click on the appropriate day section below.

  4. Under the "Edit" menu in your browser, select the "Find" option.

  5. Enter the last 4 digits of the file name from above into the "Find" box, and your cursor will be put onto the file name you want.

  6. Click on the file name and a new window will open, into which the file you want will slowly appear (remember, these are BIG files).

  7. Under the "File" menu, select "Save as..." and name the file whatever you want to name it, and select the folder in which you wish to save it.

  8. Copy that file onto a USB thumb drive or burn it to a CD/DVD and bring it to your local photofinisher to make a print. Or, just print it out onto any printer connected to your computer. The file is in standard JPG format and can be opened by any photo editing program you may have on your computer.

  9. To select another file number, click on this window again and start the selection process all over.

Click on the appropriate links below to download high resolution photos of that day's events:

If you have any questions, call Dick Brock at 949-336-2524 or just send an e-mail.

More to come:

We will eventually have a DVD of the Memorial Challenge. If you filled out one of our Participant Forms, you will automatically receive a DVD in the mail at the address you specified. If you did NOT fill out one of our Participant Forms and would like a DVD of the 2009 Memorial Challenge, just e-mail me with your mailing info.

FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T THERE...


Why Ride 2 Recovery?

The 2008 California Challenge bicycle ride changed my life. I met injured veterans with extraordinary courage and the ability to withstand pain voluntarily, in order to overcome a challenge that most able-bodied folks would never even consider undertaking.

In these photos, you'll see lots of smiles. That's due to a combination of R2R's comprehensive program and the ability of the injured veterans to "suck it up." Far from just a bicycle ride, R2R provides a sheltered environment where new-age injured veterans suffering from physical wounds, PTSD and TBI, can interact with fellow wounded veterans from all conflicts, as well as veterans and civilians, while overcoming the challenge of the ride that all participants face. 1-888-SCAN-VAN is especially supportive of the PTSD and TBI injured veterans, who suffer from a wide variety of symptoms that often limit social interaction.

These rides are several days long in order to let the magic of the program take hold of the injured veterans. Strangers at first, everyone bonds to at least some degree by the end of the ride. If you suffer alongside someone while accomplishing a common goal, even if you don't talk together much, you gain mutual respect and a friend for life.

After the ride, the injured veterans take their newfound confidence and skills home with them and apply them to the challenges they face in their personal and family lives as well as their professional lives.

The VA has begun to include cycling as an activity within their treatment. Cycling gives these men and women a sense of normalcy, accomplishment, pride and camaraderie, while providing relief from depression and other problems that accompany their wounds. Cycling is the one activity that both patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate.

The Fitness Challenge Foundation and the VA would like to expand this program to include both active duty and those already discharged, and allow more vets to take advantage of this important program. This would include cycling programs of all types. Trauma Recovery Program participants need counseling, special outings, equipment, bike skills training and technical wear among other needs. The money raised will go directly to these needs.

Ride 2 Recovery is gearing up for the 2010 Memorial Challenge ride starting May 31, and to show my level of committment to this project, I will ride my bicycle from Washington, DC to Virginia Beach, VA during the first week of June. Also, I will drive the ScanVan to Washington, DC, and the ScanVan crew will document the ride in photos and video. As usual, in the evenings, we'll open up the ScanVan for social activities.

We need your help. The program is already doing great things to help injured veterans get into cycling, but we’re really just getting started. Despite some great sponsorship from the cycling industry (USO, Star Trac, Giant, Rudy Project, Sidi, Shimano and others), the program must generate much more financial support to meet its goals.

When most folks make a donation, they want to know their money is going to make a difference to those for whom it is intended. That's the beauty of Ride 2 Recovery. You can see how your money is used by viewing our photos and DVDs of each ride and the brand new bikes that the injured veterans are riding. The smiles on their faces and the miles they ride their bikes are proof of their determination to help themselves, as well as their appreciation of your support.

You can participate in this project by sponsoring my ride and helping me achieve my personal goal of $4,000 in donations. This program needs money to survive!

You can sponsor my ride at www.ride2recovery.com/sponsor-a-rider.html [Name: Richard Brock], or you can send a check (made out to “Ride 2 Recovery”) to the address below. Your contributions are tax deductible, and any donation is greatly appreciated.

  • Richard Brock
    10181 Finchley Ave.
    Westminster, CA 92683
    949-336-2524

This is a financially challenging time for many, but imagine how much more difficult it is for these Wounded Warriors and their families. Your donation will honor their sacrifice.

Thanks for your consideration, and please forward this request to anyone whom you feel may want to participate.

Personal regards,


Dick