Joe Green is from a small town in Michigan. A full-time truck driver, he served in the Army from 1983 – 1991 and supports Project Hero programs by using his annual vacation time as a volunteer at Ride 2 Recovery events throughout the U.S.
“I’ve always been a giving person and for me to give back to others means the world to me,” he said. “Ride 2 Recovery is a passion of mine and I’m one of those guys willing to do just about anything to help our Veterans and First Responders.”
Joe got involved with the organization doing what he does best: lending a hand and carrying a bike rack at the Chicago Honor Ride in 2012 and -- as they say -- the rest is history. He showed up at the next ride and helped out even more and was eventually asked by staff if he would be a traveling volunteer for all our events.
“R2R [Ride 2 Recovery] is an organization that saves, heals and empowers the healing of our veterans through a lot of things including cycling. John Wordin had a vision and dream to help our Vets and being a Veteran, that means the world to me and to so many others,” he said.
Joe has had many positive experiences as part of R2R including as he puts it, “working with the best crew anyone could ask for as part of the Honor Ride Team.”
“My favorite memory of R2R is an emotional one for me,” he said. “On my first ride event in Chicago I had the privilege to ride with my friend John Masson, and at the end of the ride, the look and the thank you I got from him for the motivation I gave him was truly memorable. What’s amazing is that John was such an inspiration and motivator to me, I couldn’t thank him enough! We rode 50 miles that day which was easy for me because I have both arms and legs, unlike John, so ever since that day I knew what I had to do: give it back to our Vets for all they’ve been through and are still dealing with.”
Joe’s message to all Veterans and First Responders, (and everyone else), is: without you, we cannot do what we do, so keep riding and supporting our great cause and thank you all for what you do and have done for all of us.
“They have been here for us and now we are here for them,” he said.
Joe’s highlights in 2016 included meeting a three star General as part of the Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Challenge series event, witnessing the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, working with leading sponsor Rob Paddor and his crew at Skokie Subaru in Illinois, enjoying the awesome food at the Madison Honor Ride hosted by Saris Cycling Group and seeing nearly 1,000 riders at the Columbus, Ohio Honor Ride.
Joe is looking forward to working with Project Hero in 2017 as both a cyclist and vsupporter of the organization’s events and programs.
“Our freedoms are protected and provided by service members so I urge everyone to support the organizations like Project Hero that support them. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you give back to your brothers and sisters who serve our great country!”
