Soldier Ride 250: Celebrating 250 Years of American Independence

The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single pedal. As the United States approaches its 250^th anniversary, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is marking the milestone with initiatives that honor military service and highlight the courage and resilience of our nation’s veterans. One of those initiatives is a 1,000-mile cycling event from May 14-29, when warriors from around the country participated in Soldier Ride® 250, presented by NFL Salute to Service.   

Soldier Ride 250 is an adaptive cycling event that celebrates 250 years of American independence. In partnership with America250 – the nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to lead the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence – WWP® is recognizing the warriors who helped shape the nation and continue to strengthen it today 

The event began at WWP headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, and concluded at FDNY Ten House next to Ground Zero in New York City. The ride featured 80 warriors comprised of four segments, with 20 warriors riding 250 miles per segment.

Much like a traditional Soldier Ride, the 250 event offers warriors of all abilities, regardless of their injuries, the ability to participate. WWP provides no-cost programs and services to help warriors feel healthier, build strength, and stay active. Through coaching, adaptive activities, and connection with others, warriors improve their confidence and mental health and develop lasting habits that support their overall well-being. 

Segment 1: Jacksonville, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina 

Soldier Ride 250 kicked off in Jacksonville on May 14 with a celebration for the 20 warriors who started the journey. Hundreds of supporters cheered on the warriors, who were joined by Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville, THE ROAR cheerleaders, and former players who are part of the Jaguars Legends organization for the start of the ride.   

“To be able to participate in Soldier Ride 250 is amazing,” said warrior Chris Wolff. “To be able to be out here with 19 other warriors, to be able to push past our limitations, and to honor what our country has done for us for 250 years.” 

Chris is paralyzed from the waist down and is participating in Soldier Ride 250 with a hand cycle. He transitions from his wheelchair to a hand cycle and then cranks the gears with his hands, similar to the motions of pedaling a traditional upright bike. For Chris, Soldier Ride 250 is more than just a ride.  

“What’s awesome about this is to be able to push forth and continue the mission of what we’ve done in the military, which is to serve,” said Chris. “And in this case, we’re going to serve next to each other and be a representation of the Wounded Warrior Project logo, which is carrying another warrior in their time of need.  This gives me an opportunity to see and participate with other warriors who are doing the same.” 

The connection and camaraderie that Chris felt on Soldier Ride 250 is one that is shared by many other warriors on their own healing journey.  According to the WWP Warrior Survey* about 2 in 3 warriors (67%) say that talking to another veteran helps them cope with stress or mental health concerns. 

Chris and the first group of warriors finished their 250-mile segment of Soldier Ride 250 in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 17.  

Segment 2: Wilmington, North Carolina to Portsmouth, Virginia 

The next group of warriors gathered next to the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, North Carolina for the beginning of their 250-mile portion of Soldier Ride 250. For warrior Neil Duncan, his journey with WWP began more than 20 years ago when he received a backpack in the hospital after his vehicle was struck by an IED while deployed to Afghanistan in December 2005. 

“It’s huge for me,” Neil said after finishing a day of riding at the Wright Brothers Monument in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. “I was injured quite a while ago. I’m a double-amputee and I hadn’t ridden a bike since before I was injured.” 

 Neil and the rest of the warriors who participated in Soldier Ride 250 went through a three-month training program with WWP’s Physical Health and Wellness coaches to ensure that they would be in shape for the ride. 

 “Just a few months ago I picked up biking again and I’m out here doing 30-35 miles a day, four days up the East Coast,” said Neil, who rode an upright bike with his prosthetic legs. 

 As he and the other 20 warriors in his group turned for Portsmouth, Virginia, on May 21, he was able to reflect on the challenge of cycling 250 miles with Soldier Ride 250. 

 “It’s very exciting, it’s a big accomplishment for me,” said Neil. “And it’s great to spend time with other warriors to celebrate America’s 250^th.” 

Segment 3: Norfolk, Virginia to Washington DC

On a day that the nation paused for Memorial Day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the warriors rode toward the Lincoln Memorial. The group was laughing and cheering each other on with encouragement for the vast majority of their portion of Soldier Ride 250, but as they made their way into Washington DC, organically the conversations stopped and the warriors were left with their thoughts as they pedaled. 

“For me, it’s a big moment of reflection,” said warrior Kelly Elmlinger. “There’s just so many people, so many individuals, so many moments in my service time. Soldier Ride 250 has given me the chance to reflect, especially on those who we lost and made the ultimate sacrifice.” 

Kelly served multiple deployments in the Army over a 20-year career as a combat medic and registered nurse. While working as a nurse on a floor with wounded warriors, a cancer diagnosis led her to becoming a patient on her own floor. Limb salvage following cancer treatment prevented her from living as active of a life as she wanted, so she chose to have her left leg amputated. Shortly after her leg was amputated Kelly was introduced to adaptive sports through WWP, which opened the door to more healing programs. 

“I’ve done mental health workshops, I’ve done Project Odyssey, Wounded Warrior Project helped me with my benefits,” Kelly said. “I’ve done a ton of adaptive sports. I’m really into sports.” 

Kelly is currently a National Team athlete for USA Para-Triathlon and has competed in multiple Paralympics. With that success through athletics and her healing journey, she has found another element of WWP — lifting up her fellow warriors. 

“Now I feel like I’m in my ‘give back era’ where I still do some stuff, but giving back is so important to me,” Kelly said. “So, if you’re in need of a program, look up Wounded Warrior Project.” 

Segment 4: Washington, DC to New York City 

The warriors of Soldier Ride 250 rode past the monuments of Washington, DC, the location where George Washington crossed the Delaware River, and over the George Washington Bridge as the skyline of Manhattan rose above the horizon to begin a ride toward Ground Zero. There were major sites to behold, and vistas that will stay with them for a lifetime, even if they couldn’t be seen by every warrior. 

 “It’s been incredibly powerful and a whirlwind of experiences,” said warrior Zach Tidwell. “It’s been overwhelming, but in a good way.” 

 Zach is blind from a suicide attempt in 2019. He participated in Soldier Ride 250 on a tandem bike piloted by a member of the Soldier Ride team.  

“I can’t see anything, I can’t smell anything and I’m deaf in one ear, so obviously experiencing things is different for me,” said Zach, “I won’t see the ride, but I can feel the rumble of the road when a crew of Harley Davidson motorcycles flies past us to block traffic when we’re given a police escort.” 

 The warriors rode through the rain in Washington, DC and through Maryland into Delaware. Zach didn’t need to see the constant rain clouds. 

 “I feel the rain just like everyone else does and get soaked to the bone,” said Zach, “I think moving through life after such a big change, such a disability like blindness, that’s the epitome of what it is to move on, choosing to still take what I can from life to find a new avenue. So what I can’t see the scenery? I can experience just about everything else, and in different ways and probably have a bigger appreciation for those smaller things. That’s what it means to me.”

Like all of the warriors in Soldier Ride 250, Zach pedaled mile after mile, heard the cheers from supporters and encouragement from his fellow warriors, who experienced the fulfilment of pushing past their perceived boundaries in Soldier Ride 250. 

The warriors were joined by dozens of firefighters on the final portion of the ride into Manhattan, an important and symbolic ride for a group of first responders who were also shaped by the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Eighty warriors joined in Soldier Ride 250 to ride through 10 states over 16 days, covering 1,000 miles and creating memories that will stay with them and the people who support them for years to come. 

*Warrior Survey, Wave 3 (conducted May 25 – Aug. 1, 2023) 

Contact: Rich Donnelly, Public Relations, rdonnelly@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.831.7315 

About Wounded Warrior Project 

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is the nation’s leading veterans service organization, focused on the total well-being of post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.