Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Leticia Samuels | Armed forces members from every branch of military, active and retired, participated...... read more read more
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NORTH CAROLINA - Armed forces members from every branch of military, active and retired, participated in the Guard 2 Beach ride sponsored by the Warrior Ride non-profit organization, starting at the North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, May 22, 2015.
Retired Chief Warrant Officer 3, Bob Racine, Founder of the Warrior ride and 26 year veteran, motivated the crowd by initiating a small “hooah” contest between service members that attended the initial see off and the riders in the race. Col. Cliff Wilkins, NCNG Chief of the Joint Staff, also spoke about the importance of Memorial Day and encouraged cyclists to have fun.
Racine is a retired Special Forces Operations Detachment-Delta “Delta Force” officer which is now known as the combat applications group. After meeting a veteran who was wounded in the war in Iraq, Racine was inspired to work with many different organizations that supported combat injured veterans.
In 2008, Racine used his knowledge and passion gained over the years to branch out with his own nonprofit organization that supported adaptive cycling defined as modifying and adapting cycles to suit an individual rider.
“As a three tour Vietnam vet, we didn’t come home to be treated like we were heroes, and I made a promise to myself that if there was ever another war that I would not let our injured come back home and be treated like we were,” said Racine.
Bob adopted adaptive cycling to the warrior ride as a way to challenge combat injured veterans while building an atmosphere where members build morale and camaraderie. During this event, members also had a chance to initiate relationships with others that faced similar situations.
“I wanted to do something that would get them out of the hospitals and their homes and the best way to do that was to put them on bicycles somehow, if it took one wheel or ten wheels, we would make them move,” said Racine.
The Warrior Ride supports every generation of war and is open to men and women, civilians, active and retired, officers and enlisted alike. Service members also receive clothing to keep and have in the past been given bicycles to keep as well.
“Bob is a great guy and he goes above and beyond with everything he does and a lot of it is him volunteering his own time,” said Master Sgt. Bobby Wheeler, North Carolina National Guard Digital Training Management Systems and Annual Training manager. “He really advocates for us and gets civilian businesses to help out and helps us build relationships with the community”
Service members started their journey to Oak Island Friday from the headquarters enduring over 70 miles through Raleigh, into Cary, onto Apex and finishing at the NCNG Armory in Clinton, North Carolina, for the first leg of the race.
“To see these guys that are injured, have an outlet and a way to exercise and just improve their quality of life is just motivating for me,” said Wheeler.
Day two started the longest part of the race where riders rode a total of 81 miles to the NCNG Armory in Wilmington where Bill Saffo, Mayor of Wilmington, spoke along with other guest speakers. Riders also enjoyed a barbecue, fun activities, music, and support from family and friends.
The last leg of the race ended with veterans riding the last 50 miles to Oak Island including a ferry ride, where they were greeted by family members and residents of the Island. State senator Bill Rabon, Mayor Betty Wallace, Oak Island, and retired Army Col. Joseph Calisto, senior JROTC instructor West Brunswick High School also spoke during various times throughout the weekend.
“For me it’s bringing a whole new friendship, where they know they can lean on me and I’ll give,” said Racine “it’s the fact of knowing that human beings are relating to human beings.”
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2015 09:08 |
| Story ID: | 165071 |
| Location: | NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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