Participants of the California Coastal Challenge rode their bikes through San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach on Wednesday as a part of a “Project Hero Campaign.”
Everyone cycling is either a veteran or a first responder who is currently going through therapy or mentoring. One of the reasons the veterans participate in the bicycling challenge is to show that support is always available for those who need it.
“It’s tough, but you put yourself through a little bit of trauma to heal a little bit more, and It’s good trauma,” said Navy Veteran Candise Morgan. “Since we’re doing this together, we have a closer bond because there are people here I haven’t even talked to, but I can strike up a conversation with them because we’ve done this ride.”
The ride began in Santa Cruz, and the cyclists are biking another 400 miles down the coast to Ventura.
The challenge is a part of Project Hero’s mission to bring different people together to break down the walls of recovery.
Project Hero encourages everyone to join the ride or to fundraise for a veteran’s spot to ride. To learn more about the organization, click here.
