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BACH invites the Community to support wounded, injured and ill Soldiers Bike Ride from Fort Knox to Fort Campbell

Blanchfield Army Hospital - BACH - Fort Campbell KYFort Campbell, KY – Fort Campbell residents and members of the surrounding communities are invited to show their support September 25th for wounded, injured and ill Soldiers as they participate in the Bluegrass Rendezvous Bike Ride, a therapeutic and challenging ride.

The Fort Campbell group will consist of 12 WTB Soldiers, one who recently returned to duty with his unit, and their support team. They will meet a group of Fort Knox Soldiers and their support staff at Fort Knox September 24th and ride the first 97 miles to Bowling Green, KY.

After an overnight stay, the group of approximately 40 riders will bike the remaining 67 miles September 25th to Fort Campbell. Fort Campbell WTB staff and Soldiers, as well as the 101st Airborne Division Band, will welcome the returning riders with a finish line celebration.

Members of the communities surrounding Fort Campbell are invited to line the last portion of the route and show support for the Soldiers. Riders will take their last break of the ride between noon and 12:30pm September 25th at the Hi Road Exxon gas station and convenience store in Guthrie, KY.

The public portion of this leg is below, also shown in this map http://goo.gl/maps/iDWzE:  LEFT onto Tylertown Road [SR-294] for 6.9 miles, LEFT onto Trenton Road [SR-48] for 0.6 miles, RIGHT onto Tiny Town Road [SR-236] for 6.8 miles, RIGHT onto US-41A [SR-12] for 1.0 miles to Fort Campbell’s Gate 4.

The riders plan to arrive at Fort Campbell between 2:00pm and 2:30pm. The Fort Campbell community is encouraged to show their support along the Fort Campbell portion of the ride on the following streets:  LEFT onto Screaming Eagle Boulevard (Gate 4) for 0.6 miles, RIGHT onto Bastogne Avenue for 0.7 miles, LEFT onto 35th Street [Reed Avenue] for 0.4 miles, LEFT onto Indiana Avenue for 0.9 miles, RIGHT onto 23rd St for 0.1 miles, LEFT onto Kentucky Avenue for 0.2 miles, then LEFT into the Fort Campbell WTB complex.

“This inaugural event is for the Soldiers who are going through transition who are actually pedaling these miles, but their cadre, nurse case managers, chain of command are going to be right there, pedaling alongside them. That’s what it’s all about,” said WTB physical therapist Rebecca Murphy, one of the event coordinators.

According to Murphy, cycling can be adapted for anyone, regardless of physical ability. “That’s what makes this program so special,” she said.

Murphy explained that in addition to standard bicycles, some of the riders plan to ride hand cycles and recumbent bikes to accommodate their unique abilities.

Bicycle riding offers many benefits to Soldiers as they work through their healing process, Murphy explained. Aside from the obvious health benefits of physical activity, Murphy said Soldiers can experience positive social interaction with other riders as well as relieve stress.

“It is like meditation on two wheels,” said Murphy. “All you can think about is pedaling and your mind clears.”

The course has been dubbed Route Scruggs after the late Earl Scruggs, the “best bluegrass banjo picker” according to event coordinators at Fort Campbell. “Not only did he define an entire instrument within a uniquely American genre of music, but he welcomed, encouraged and supported other musicians who aspired to his musicianship,” said Murphy.

The same holds true for the experienced riders with the Adaptive Reconditioning Program (ARP) as they encourage newer riders preparing for the upcoming bike ride.

Riders from both Army posts have been training with their respective WTB ARP to ensure they are prepared to take on the physical and mental challenges of a 164-mile bike ride.

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