Courtesy Photo | North Carolina National Guard soldier Staff Sgt. Nicole Zarate takes a picture with...... read more read more
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RALEIGH, N.C. – For some, riding a bicycle is exercise, for North Carolina National Guard soldier Staff Sgt. Nicole Zarate however, it’s a passion.
Zarate and 10 others from states such as Nevada, Utah and Idaho will engage in a grueling bicycle adventure encompassing more than 4,200 miles and lasting almost three months, beginning June 10.
Zarate serves with the NCNG logistics section and is also health and wellness coach in her civilian life. She and her fellow riders will be making the long journey to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project.
“I am an avid cyclist and runner and I am always looking for the next greatest challenge,” said Zarate. “I love adventures: my father was an adventurer, I’m an adventurer. I’ve always wanted to go somewhere and do something to push myself.”
She began her distance cycling obsession back in 2008 by participating in her first 100-mile cycling event to raise awareness for diabetes, called Tour de Cure, sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.
Since that time, every summer, if she wasn’t deployed, she was engaging in long distance cycling events.
In the summer of 2012, Zarate decided to try something different. What did she do you may ask? She hopped on her bike and rode across the state of North Carolina, by herself.
So, it was only natural that Zarate decide to push herself a little more in 2013, this time in a ride across the entire United States.
She was searching for interesting races when she came across one being led by retired Nevada police officer and cycling enthusiast, Curt Wildemann, who was looking for a group of people to ride across the nation and raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. For Zarate, it was a natural fit.
“I have seen and treated seriously wounded soldiers in Afghanistan,” said Zarate. “It definitely hit home with me and is worth the adventure, worth putting all the effort in getting the name out there and getting the word out there to raise money and raise awareness for this cause.”
Before she was in logistics, Zarate was an Army medical specialist, so her experiences overseas inspired her to be a part of this adventure.
The route takes place on the TransAmerica Trail, which spans across the entire country, beginning in Astoria, Ore., and ending in Yorktown, Va.
The trail follows the upper northwest part of the United States and then meanders through Montana, Wyoming and the foothills of Colorado before heading east into Missouri and Kentucky and finally ending in Virginia.
The ride is "self-contained," meaning all riders must carry all of their gear on their bicycles as they ride. Luckily for the group, one member of the group has a family member who donated a truck and trailer to lighten the load a bit on the riders.
Two of the cyclists are Vietnam veterans and one will be riding a recumbent bicycle - a bike where the rider sits close to the ground rather than upright on a saddle, like traditional bicycles.
According to Zarate, generous donations like this aren’t uncommon. She said along the route, the group will be staying in community centers, churches and in some cases, people’s homes.
“There is a program called ‘hot showers,’ which is a way for the cyclists to stop at people’s houses, (usually other cycling enthusiasts) who let the riders camp in their backyard or in their homes so that the riders can get a hot shower and food while on their journey,” said Zarate.
Money is raised by visiting the group’s website at: rideacrossamerica.us. The website has links that allow the public to make donations directly to the Wounded Warrior Project.
During the ride, no proceeds go towards expenses for the cyclists.
According to Zarate, everything they need along the route, every where they stay for the night and any time they eat somewhere or get supplies; those expenses come out of the riders pockets or through sponsorships.
“I didn’t sign up for people to pay for me to ride across America,” said Zarate. “I signed up with the intent of doing this ride for the cause.”
When Zarate begins her journey June 10, 2013, the N.C. National Guard will be with her every step of the way. You can follow her adventure through our social media channels on Twitter (@NCNationalGuard and Staff Sgt. Zarate @nicolezcycles) or on our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/NCnationalguard.
To learn more about the TransAmerica Trail, visit: www.adventurecycling.org/transamerica-trail/. Once on the site, you can view maps, get information on the routes the cyclists will be traveling and gain a better appreciation for the distance and difficulty of this journey.
Come join us as we support one of our soldiers in this epic journey for a worthy cause!
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2013 15:17 |
| Story ID: | 108533 |
| Location: | RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NC National Guard soldier rides across US for Wounded Warriors, by CPT Rick Scoggins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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