Hundreds ride and run for veterans
America is drawing down its troop levels, particularly in Iraq. But after the troops come home, many have to deal with lingering injuries.
On Sunday, runners and cyclists participated in the first Barrington Honor Ride and Run to raise funds and awareness for wounded veterans.
Hundreds of people participated in the 30-mile bike ride, or a 10K or 5K run, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare. Proceeds went to two organizations, the Ride 2 Recovery and Operation Homefront, both of which are dedicated to helping wounded vets.
Operation Homefront provides direct services to alleviate a military family’s or individual’s financial burden, in addition to counseling and recovery support.
“The biggest intent is to raise awareness of the need to support our wounded veterans,” said Karen Trzaska, a Barrington resident and an Operation Homefront board member. “With the technology out there in war, the injuries that our veterans are returning home with are so much more complicated and long-lasting. There is a lot of brain trauma injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder (and) those who have lost mobility or actual limbs, and we really need to provide them the rehabilitation services and the support at home as well that we can. because there are so many returning home.”
For more information, visit operationhomefront.net/Illinois.
Ride 2 Recovery helps injured veterans improve their health and wellness through the challenge of cycling on multiday, long-distance rides.
United Healthcare, a national sponsor of Ride 2 Recovery, supports seven of its weeklong cycling challenges. The company hired 10 veterans, including Naperville resident Shawn Doty, 37, a Hampshire native and gunnery sergeant with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines in Chicago. Doty said he deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005.
While there, he said, he was in Triangle of Death.
“We were in an 800-meter by 800-meter base. It was downright combat out there,” he said.
Doty said his Humvee was set on fire after it was hit by a small IED outside of Abu Ghraib prison. Fortunately everyone escaped from the vehicle, which burned completely to the ground. “The reason I’m here today is because I have friends that were injured by IEDs and gunfire. I think it’s good to bring awareness and be able to help them out,” he said.
Tom Wiffler, president and CEO of United Healthcare of Illinois, who lives in Bolingbrook and is a former major in the Marine Corps, said he participated Sunday to support other veterans.
For more information, visit ride2recovery.com.
The event drew avid bikers and runners, including Susan Black of Lake Zurich.
“It’s for a great cause. We like to bike anyway, so we might as well do it for a good cause,” she said.
Throughout the course, the participants were escorted by Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle group that rides in honor and memory of those who have been killed in action, were prisoners of war and are missing in action.
Also on hand was the Lake County Marine Corps League, based in Antioch.
“This is what it’s all about, in our minds at least,” said member Russ Dusak. “It’s an honor to be here, and we would do it any day of the week.”