Injured Veterans to Cycle 450 Miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles for Annual Ride 2 Recovery Cyc

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Injured Veterans to Cycle 450 Miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles for Annual Ride 2 Recovery Cycling Event

  • Veterans, troops and supporters to ride hand cycles, recumbents, tandems and traditional road bicycles along California coast

  • Ride 2 Recovery provides cycling rehabilitation programs for the nation's injured veterans

  • Public encouraged to gather along daily routes to support and cheer on riders

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- More than 200 cyclists including injured veterans and their supporters will set off Sunday, Oct. 21, on the Ride 2 Recovery Golden State Challenge presented by UnitedHealthcare, a seven-day, 450-mile ride along the scenic California coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Ride 2 Recovery is a nonprofit organization that supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs for injured veterans, featuring cycling as its core activity. From indoor spinning training at military installations to multiday, long-distance rides, Ride 2 Recovery helps injured veterans heal through the challenge of cycling long distances using hand cycles, recumbents, tandems and traditional road bikes.


Golden State Challenge cyclists will start their journey Sunday, Oct. 21, in South San Francisco and ride south along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway along the state's scenic coastline with overnight stops in Santa Cruz, Carmel, San Simeon, Pismo Beach, Solvang, Ventura and Santa Monica. The ride will conclude Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Santa Monica Pier.

"The Ride 2 Recovery Golden State Challenge helps support important health programs for men and women who served our country, and we are honored to serve them through this sponsorship," said Dan Rosenthal, West Region CEO, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual. "Exercise and rehabilitation services are critically important to help injured veterans enjoy a return to the health and well-being they richly deserve."

This is the third year that UnitedHealthcare is serving as Ride 2 Recovery's presenting sponsor, providing financial, in-kind and volunteer support to assist in the rehabilitation of America's injured veterans.

"One of the best qualities of cycling is that practically anyone can participate," said John Wordin, president and founder, Ride 2 Recovery. "We adapt bikes for the injured veterans so they can once again find a physical and mental outlet, whether alone or in groups. As they rebuild physical strength and conditioning, they are also healing the effects of post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and depression. Cycling is a powerful therapeutic exercise that they can continue to do for the rest of their lives."

The USO will support daily rest stops with a mobile canteen, and the American Legion Family will provide a motorcycle escort and sponsor dinners and community events. In addition to UnitedHealthcare, other sponsors who make these Challenges possible at no cost to injured veterans are BAE Systems, Chevrolet, Deloitte, Raleigh Bicycles, U-Haul and United Airlines.

For more information about Ride 2 Recovery, the Golden State Challenge or how to participate, visit www.ride2recovery.com. The public is encouraged to gather along the daily ride routes to support the cyclists.

About R2R
Ride 2 Recovery, a 501(c) 3, helps injured veterans improve their health and wellness through individual and group cycling. Cycling has proven to be a catalyst in the recovery process by providing a new physical challenge while concurrently helping to cope with the psychological challenges.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 650,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYS: UNH) , a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.



UnitedHealthcare
Matthew Yi, 714-226-3842
matthew.yi@uhc.com

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