Wounded Warrior Project Launches Relay Ride Through the Southwest

Approximately 20 veterans departed from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Monday to begin a multi-day cycling relay toward Phoenix. The event, named Soldier Ride, is a partnership between the Wounded Warrior Project and the National Football League. A separate group of riders is scheduled to start in Phoenix and continue the route to Los Angeles.

Organizers state the primary objective is collective recovery rather than speed. Participants include individuals with both visible physical injuries and invisible wounds. The nonprofit emphasizes the importance of connection and support during the journey.

Lt. Gen. Walt Pyatt, CEO of Wounded Warrior Project, addressed the difficulty veterans face upon returning from service. “For warriors, every warrior, whether they have a physical wound that you can see or an invisible wound, it shouldn’t be harder to come home than it is to go, but it is,” Pyatt said. “Most warriors come back, but they don’t truly come home. Wounded Warrior Project, we’re committed to finding every warrior everywhere and bringing them home, mind, body and soul.”

The organization offers free programs to post-9/11 veterans, including future iterations of the Soldier Ride. Interested individuals can register through the Wounded Warrior Project website.

The relay structure involves teams passing the cycling leg to one another as they traverse the Southwest. The initial leg covers the distance from Las Vegas to Phoenix, while the subsequent leg extends from Phoenix to Los Angeles. The event is part of a broader effort to support veteran recovery.