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Wounded veterans find support through 500 mile bike, tandem ride

Post-Bulletin - 8/8/2017

Aug. 08--Omar Duran, 38, prepped himself for the next leg of the Great Lakes Challenge at the Centerstone Plaza Hotel in Rochester Monday afternoon. The Texas native would be one of about 100 veterans riding 500 miles from Minneapolis to Chicago for seven days on a bicycle.

"It's a mental struggle every day," Duran explained as he adjusted himself in his wheelchair. "This ride is about seeing what America is about. ...it's so exhilarating to be out on this ride. It's been very exciting."

More than just a bike ride, the veterans view the seven-day excursion as time to heal and build camaraderie with those who are undergoing similar experiences. This was a collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and Project Hero, a national nonprofit organization helping veterans and first responders affected by injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery and resilience in their daily lives.

"Our goal is to help heal our heroes, and serve those who have served us," said Peter Bylsma, Project Hero director of marketing and communications.

Pat Ryan, 58, of Seattle, has been retired from the military for about two decades. Ryan was a cyclist before a recent surgery made it difficult for him to get back into riding. However, he joined a "hub" of fellow veterans who trained as a group, and eventually pushed himself to start tackling challenges.

This wasn't just limited to just working out for the challenge. This meant a full commitment from those who looked to get better and to find ways of coping with their injuries. However, having someone else who went through similar trauma makes the support that much more genuine, he said Instead of readying and training themselves for one event, it's for their lives.

"We help each other," Ryan said. "It's fun, and it's healing."

After a year of "suffering" from the surgery, Ryan started finding peace and joy in riding with fellow veterans. He felt that now he was in a good place, he'd be able to help "push" others to continue taking care of themselves by going out into the world.

"When we get together, that's where the real healing happens," he said. "That's the good stuff. I'm hoping to encourage others, to keep pushing them up hills. That's why I do it."

Have some regional news from Dodge, Fillmore, or Mower County that you'd like to share? Contact Hannah at 507-285-7744, or by email at hyang@postbulletin.com.

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