- More than 100 veterans will ride
from San Francisco to Los Angeles during 10th annual
UnitedHealthcare California Challenge benefiting veterans and first
responders with PTSD and other injuries
More than 100 military veterans, first responders and their
supporters will ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles during the
2017 UnitedHealthcare California Challenge. The ride, in its tenth
year, is a collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and Project Hero,
benefiting veterans and first responders with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and other injuries.
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Navy veteran Nathan DeWalt, left, rode a
hand cycle through San Francisco Oct. 15 along with fellow veterans
as part of the UnitedHealthcare California Challenge from San
Francisco to Los Angeles. Riders will make the seven-day journey
with hand cycles, recumbent cycles, adaptive bikes, traditional
road bikes and custom tandems. The UnitedHealthcare California
Challenge is a collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and Project
Hero, a national nonprofit organization that helps veterans and
first responders affected by injury, post-traumatic stress disorder
and traumatic brain injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery and
resilience in their daily lives. (Photo: Amy Sullivan)
The noncompetitive, therapeutic bike tour begins today and
covers nearly 450 miles. The full 2017 UnitedHealthcare California
Challenge schedule includes:
- Sunday, Oct. 15 – San Francisco to
Santa Cruz, 77 miles
- Monday, Oct. 16 – Santa Cruz to
Salinas, 42 miles
- Tuesday, Oct. 17 – Salinas to Lake
Nasciamento/San Simeon, 120 miles
- Wednesday, Oct. 18 – San Simeon to
Pismo Beach, 56 miles
- Thursday, Oct. 19 – Pismo Beach to
Solvang, 74 miles
- Friday, Oct. 20 – Solvang to Ventura,
72 miles
- Saturday, Oct. 21 – Ventura to Los
Angeles, 63 miles
Participating veterans ride for free in the multiday event,
which takes them through historic sites, civic centers and local
attractions while riding hand cycles, recumbent cycles, adaptive
bikes and traditional road bikes. Information is available at
www.projecthero.org.
“This cycling event raises awareness about PTSD and helps
veterans like me recover from our injuries and heal,” said Carlos
Vera of San Jose, Calif. “The comradery of riding with my fellow
veterans, hearing their stories and knowing we have a strong
network of support through organizations such as Project Hero and
UnitedHealthcare are so important in our recovery process.”
Project Hero is a national nonprofit organization that helps
military veterans and first responders affected by injury, PTSD and
traumatic brain injury (TBI) achieve rehabilitation, recovery and
resilience in their daily lives.
UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, has
been a partner of Project Hero and its programs for veterans since
2010, providing funding and critical support for its therapy rides
across the United States. Through Optum, which operates the
company’s military health services business, the company is
supporting Project Hero’s efforts to help veterans and first
responders affected by PTSD and TBI as part of a
multimillion-dollar commitment to help expand national HUB
community sites, Project Hero Honor Ride events, the Women’s
Initiative and Mountain Biking programs.
“UnitedHealthcare is honored to support Project Hero and this
year’s California Challenge,” said Robert Falkenberg, CEO of
UnitedHealthcare of California. “There is nothing like the
therapeutic power of cycling, and we are privileged to ride
alongside and support men and women who have served our
country.”
In addition to five 2017 UnitedHealthcare Challenge Series rides
held over multiple days throughout the country, Project Hero hosts
annual one-day Honor Rides inviting the public to ride with healing
heroes in cities throughout the nation.
Founded in 2008, Project Hero has built more than 200 adaptive
bikes for injured veteran riders and donated more than 2,500 bikes
to military veteran riders who have logged more than 700,000 miles
already this year in support of America’s healing heroes.
“The Challenge Series combines cycling, comradery and
peer-to-peer interaction to help veterans and first responders
suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries meet challenges,
achieve goals and build lasting relationships,” said John Wordin,
president and founder of Project Hero. “The multiple-day format
gives healing heroes a unique opportunity for a life-changing
experience that supports mental and physical rehabilitation and
recovery.”
Wordin, a former professional cyclist, rides in every Project
Hero Challenge Series event.
Project Hero also oversees community centers and programs in
more than 50 cities throughout the United States and works in
partnership on PTSD research programs with the Veterans
Administration and leading research institutions, including
Georgetown University Hospital.
About Project Hero
Founded in 2008, Project Hero is a groundbreaking national
non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans and First
Responders affected by PTSD, TBI and injury achieve rehabilitation,
recovery and resilience in their daily lives and increasing
awareness of the national mental health crisis posed by PTSD and
TBI. Project Hero programs work by producing positive outcomes at
lower costs and reducing drug-based therapies. Project Hero builds
and provides adaptive bikes to physically-challenged and injured
Veterans and First Responders and has helped tens of thousands of
Healing Heroes at no cost to participants through cycling events,
community-based programs in more than 50 cities throughout the US
and by supporting research. For information, visit
www.projecthero.org.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live
healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting
consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted
relationships with care providers. The company offers the full
spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers,
military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare
and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with 1 million
physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other
care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the
businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune
50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit
UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171015005053/en/
Project Hero Public RelationsPeter Bylsma,
310-795-8532pbylsma@projecthero.orgorUnitedHealthcareMatt
Rodriguez, 714-252-0479matt.rodriguez@uhc.com
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