The Wounded Warrior Project is an organization committed to helping veterans succeed in every aspect of life after service. It understands that dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation are a reality for many veterans. It also recognizes that a significant number of returned servicemembers may have to face post-traumatic stress disorder. For these reasons, the Wounded Warrior Project creates many activities to bring veterans together to help one another heal.
One such project is the Soldier Ride, an event where former servicemembers gather for a bike excursion. Even disabled veterans can participate, as the organization provides adaptive cycles. Most recently, a Solider Ride took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the city's version of the ride, 53 veterans came together to bike a 12-mile loop around the city that began and ended in Lincoln Financial Field.
"These soldier rides, what they do is they motivate you to go out and complete a task, and while you are completing that task, you are not thinking about the injuries or your mental blocks that you have," John Conway, an Iraq war veteran and Philadelphia Solider Ride participant, told CBS Philly.