Road 2 Recovery

Hi,

My active retirement has included a new business, 1-888-SCAN-VAN, allowing me to donate services to Vietnam vets who want to document their wartime experiences, but need help in areas such as designing and producing books from old photos and digitizing obsolete reel-to-reel audio tapes.

In addition to the above, I'm now involved with Road 2 Recovery http://road2recovery.us.com , a non-profit organization that's partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) Office, and is dedicated to the mental and physical rehab of wounded veterans.

The conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan has taken a toll on the mental and physical lives of our heroes. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as the physical injuries, burns and loss of limbs lead to an array of problems for the returning troops. The VA has begun to include cycling as an activity within their treatment. Cycling gives these men and women a sense of normalcy, accomplishment, pride, camaraderie, and provides relief from depression and other problems that accompany these issues. Cycling is the one activity that both patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate.

Through this partnership, the Fitness Challenge Foundation and the VA would like to expand this program to include both active duty and those already discharged, and allow more vets to take advantage of this important program. This would include cycling programs of all types. Trauma Recovery Program participants need counseling, special outings, equipment, bike skills training, and technical wear among other needs. The money raised will go to these needs.

Road 2 Recovery is gearing up for the 2008 West Coast ride, and to show my level of committment to this project, I will ride 480 miles (San Francisco to LA) from Sept. 28 thru Oct. 4. We need your help. The program is already doing great things to help injured veterans get started in cycling, but we’re really just getting started. Despite some great sponsorship from the cycling industry (Star Trac, Giant, Rudy Project, Sidi, Shimano and others), the program must generate much more financial support to meet its goals.

You can participate in this project by sponsoring my ride and helping me achieve my personal goal of $4,000 in donations. This program needs money to survive!

You can sponsor my ride at www.r2rriders.com/sponsor [Name: Richard Brock], or you can send a check (made out to “Road 2 Recovery”) to the address below. Your contributions are tax deductible, and any donation is greatly appreciated.

Richard Brock
10181 Finchley Ave.
Westminster, CA 92683
949-336-2524

This is a financially challenging time for many, but imagine how much more difficult it is for these wounded vets. What is their sacrifice and your freedom worth?

Thanks for your consideration, and please forward this request to anyone whom you feel may want to participate.

Personal regards,

Dick

Here are some links to Road 2 Recovery events:

http://www.bicycling.com/tourdefrance/article/0,6802,s1-3-12-17592-1-P,00.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2008-05-19-veterans_N.htm
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/AmericaSupportsYou/Content.aspx?ID=44977188&SectionID=1
http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/05/21/9321-wounded-warriors-on-road-2-recovery/
http://www.truthout.org/article/on-this-memorial-day