Fort Campbell, KY – On September 27th, 2019, wounded, ill and injured Soldiers will participate in a 101-mile bike ride, “Where Heroes Rendezvous,” on Fort Campbell and in the surrounding communities.
More than 70 riders, including wounded, ill or injured Soldiers assigned to the Fort Campbell, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Fort Benning, Georgia Warrior Transition Battalions, as well as cadre, veterans and volunteers will ride, sharing their support of WTB Soldiers along the route. The community can help cheer for riders as they ride past along the route.
This annual event once known as the Bluegrass Rendezvous, which was a 2-day event when Fort Campbell and Fort Knox Warrior Transition Soldiers combined units and rode from Fort Knox to Fort Campbell.
Since Fort Knox’s Warrior Transition Soldiers are now receiving care by other units, Fort Campbell continues the tradition of the ride; however, the ride now centers on and around Fort Campbell.
The Fort Campbell WTB leaders extended the ride to include Fort Stewart and Fort Benning wounded, ill or injured Soldiers as part of the therapeutic but challenging bicycle ride for its wounded, ill and injured Soldiers.
With a total of 20 WTB Soldiers from three installations scheduled to participate, the Soldiers have been training and preparing for this long-distance ride since April.
In addition, more than 50 cadre, veterans and volunteers will be participating alongside the Soldiers throughout the ride. Riders will travel through the countryside of Clarksville and several counties in Kentucky. The team plans to break every 25 miles for water and refreshment breaks, as well as equipment and medical support if needed. Local area police authorities have been notified of the route and timeline within each of the communities.
Battalion commander. “We focus our events around opportunities where Soldiers can set difficult but achievable goals while building a support network around them.”
Soldiers participating who may need adaptive biking equipment can also participate in the ride.
“Adjustments are made for riders who are not able to make the ride on the standard bikes you typically see in a biking event,” said Lindsey Davidson, Fort Campbell WTB Physical Therapist and Adaptive Reconditioning Program Manager.
“We monitor each person’s capability and make adjustments for the individual. This allows Soldiers to realize just because a task may not be completed as they did once before, doesn’t mean you cannot still accomplish the task. We just find a different way for it to be accomplished to allow them to succeed,” Davidson stated.
At least nine Soldiers will be using recumbent bikes during this year’s ride. The recumbent bikes enable injured Soldiers to participate, helping to reduce the risk of pain and can build strength.
The evening of September 26th, riders will enjoy a spaghetti dinner at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center and will depart at 7:00am, September 27th from building 2114 Indiana Avenue on post.
After departing, the riders will head toward Kentucky Avenue and 101st Airborne Division Road. Riders will leave post through Gate 10 and take a left on 11th Airborne Division Road. The first rest stop will occur 25 miles into the ride in Lafayette, Kentucky, followed by rest stops in Gracey, Hopkinsville and Oak Grove, Kentucky.
Community members who want to support can cheer for riders as they pass by your location. Planned cheer points are Indian Hills Elementary School, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Headquarters and the Warrior Transition Battalion Headquarters.
Real-time updates will be shared on Blanchfield’s social media sites, available at www.facebook.com/BACH.Fort.Campbell/ , www.instagram.com/blanchfield_hospital/ and www.twitter.com/bach_healthcare
