Apriil 15, 2018
The first day of our 10th Texas Challenge got us off to a wonderful start!
Riding under the big blue skies of the Lone Star state, the start of today’s 88-mile journey began with a celebration at our partner Performance Bicycle’s new store in San Antonio. We then headed for the Center for the Intrepid, the traditional start of the Texas event.
Today’s blog gives us the opportunity to feature one of our favorite riders Sean McEndree. Its great to have him back with us after an absence of several years. An Army Veteran who lives in Salado, TX, served 10 years and was deployed to Iraq, Sean rode his first Texas Challenge in 2011 and served our riders as a Delta Group leader. But he was the victim of a car accident during the following year’s Challenge – yet even though his bike was broken into pieces, that didn’t stop him from riding the next day!
Sean took a break from riding for several years and realized he missed the healing and the community he had experienced with us. Five years since his last real ride, and motivated by HUB leaders Shelly and Jeff Moser, Sean decided this year’s Texas Challenge was an opportunity to get back to healing and riding.
“It was Michael Manning who convinced me I had to get back riding and Jeff and Shelly have been really great motivators,” he said. “I was hurting and gained a lot of weight. But thanks to Mike and Mike King who have helped me with my diet and training, and all that support, I’m feeling a lot better and am happy to be here.”
Sean likes what he sees in today’s Project Hero and is enjoying this year’s Challenge so far. “The organization is better now both in the operation and the riding – no more accordion spacing, everything is well run and more organized,” he said. “I feel better than I thought I would after riding today!”
“No matter what,” he said. “Never give up, we’re family here, we’re just a phone call away. All of us have experienced the tough times and we understand each other so well, we can talk without saying a word. It is truly No Vet Alone at Project Hero.”
And most important, Sean is enjoying the Challenge.
“Riding with Project Hero…I got my smile back!” he said.
Tomorrow we ride 64 miles from Austin to Georgetown.
Media coverage includes:
https://www.ksat.com/news/more-than-100-veterans-bike-ride-from-sa-to-fort-worth-for-good-cause-1
