A national, non-profit initiative based in Florida designed to encourage wounded veterans to use cycling as part of their rehabilitation, the Wounded Warrior Project is coming to Babylon Town this Friday, , for the fourth consecutive year.
The purpose of this fundraising Soldier Ride - and other Soldier Rides around the country - is three-fold:
- To raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members.
- To help injured service members aid and assist each other.
- To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.
Registration and packet pick-up opens at 7 a.m. at , located at 200 East Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst. The ride will then kick off at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony.
Riders, both veterans and those supporting them, will then make their way across Robert Moses Causeway to end the ride at on Ocean Parkway.
The ride usually draws hundreds of riders, and has gotten larger every year, according to Town officials.
And last year, despite some , riders came out in force and were able to for the cause.
Riders could still register here. Registration fees are $50 for cycling the 25-mile route and $25 for those 21 and younger cycling the same route. Registration fees include a 2012 Soldier Ride t-shirt and community picnic lunch following event. On the day of the event, riders should bring with them a bicycle, Helmet and a water bottle.
Registration packet pick-up is set for July 19, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the American Legion Post 1120, located at 80 Herbert Avenue in Lindenhurst. Or packets could be retrieved on the day of the ride beginning at 7 a.m. at Town Hall, as previously mentioned.
Those who do register for the ride ahead of time as individuals or teams could fundraise via the group's website.
All donations are used for programs supporting injured service personnel. They include advocacy, counseling and family support, all of which help to ease the sometimes difficult transition to civilian life for returning veterans, many of whom have experienced life-changing injuries.
Spectators could also come to cheer on riders along the route, which runs through downtown Lindenhurst, Copiague and Amityville along West Hoffman Avenue before heading East along Montauk Highway toward Babylon Village, West Islip and Robert Moses Causeway and then onto Ocean Parkway to Overlook Beach.
(See also the accompanying PDF file for full route details.)
Transportation will be provided via shuttle bus back to the starting location in Lindenhurst.
To register or for more information, visit the Soldier Ride website. Online registration is set to close at 5 p.m. this Thursday, July 19, a day prior to the event.
Residents interested in more information could also call Babylon Town Alternate-Councilwoman Ellen McVeety's office at 631-957-3127.
Please note the ride will take place rain or shine.
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