The 2009 Face of America Bike Ride!

As many of our readers are aware the ASMBA STAR Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) made up of a voluntary association of individuals dedicated to improving the quality of life for all military personnel, veterans, and their families.  In keeping with our tradition of “serving a cause greater than ourselves,” I would like to share with you information on an amazing event named the “2009 Face of America Bike Ride” spread over the course of two days, April 25-26, 2009, from Bethesda, MD to Gettysburg, PA. Whoa dude!  There are definitely some hills on that trail! 

 

The event and its participants are described below by an Army Major who is an active duty aviation Blackhawk pilot.  The following is a copy of an e-mail message she sent to her friends.  Her Dad forwarded the email to friends in an effort to let them and others know about her and if so felt - honor her in any way you feel appropriate as she works for our fellow military extended family.  Here’s the email:

 

Family and friends,

I hope that this letter finds everyone doing well.  I usually do not send out letters like this, but I feel like this is a really good cause, and I am asking for your support both in prayers and in a contribution.

I am participating in the 2009 Face of America bike ride over the course of two days, April 25-26, 2009, from Bethesda, MD to Gettysburg, PA.

 

This is a two-day inclusive bike ride of approximately 110 miles, creating a TEAM of people with and without disabilities, both military and civilian alike.  World T.E.A.M. Sports (The Exceptional Athlete Matters) creates inclusive sports TEAMS; using the powerful platform of sports to bring together participants with and without disabilities. With an increasing number of servicemen and women returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with severe injuries, this ride will honor them by actively using sports to help integrate these recently severely injured servicemen and women back into society. It is also a way to thank these young men and women for their service and also let them know that they can still be active members of the TEAM.

To make this a success, World T.E.A.M. Sports (The Exceptional Athlete Matters) is working with the Soldiers Angels organization, the Injured Semper Fi Foundation, and service members at the Walter Reed Medical Center, the National Naval Medical Center, the Brooke Army Medical Center, U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, as well as others.

I have the distinct honor to ride alongside LTC Greg Gadson who is a double amputee.  While deployed to Iraq as a Battalion Commander, he was severely injured by a roadside bomb resulting in him losing both of his legs.  I have also participated in several Wounded Warrior visits to the Pentagon, and I continue to be amazed at each of these individual’s attitudes.  They are positive, upbeat, and just ready to get back to doing their job.  I hope that by doing this ride, it will allow me to continue to thank and honor those that have been injured while fighting for this great nation and made the ultimate sacrifice.  God has been so awesome giving me some great opportunities and seeing me safely through multiple deployments.  Now I want to be able to give back to those that have sacrificed so much, and I just ask for your help in doing so.

You can make a donation to World T.E.A.M. Sports which allows military members to participate in these sporting events free of charge showing them that they can still be part of a team.  To make a donation, you can go to the following website:  https://www.active.com/donate/2009FOA/FOAJPhelps. 

For more information on World T.E.A.M sports, you can go to the following website: http://www.worldteamsports.org/

Thanks in advance for your support, and I just ask that you continue to keep all the service members in your prayers that God may protect them and their families. 

Thanks again and God bless you!
Jennifer

P.S. The donation is tax deductible, and the majority of the donation goes to the events in support of the soldier’s participation.  Due to the organization being operated by volunteers with very minimal overhead, they are able to put the majority of the money raised towards these events. 

 

Jennifer thank you for your service!  And thank you for giving something back that means so much to our soldiers and there loving families!  I’m proud to be an American and the ASMBA STAR Foundation is honored to let everyone know about the World T.E.A.M. Sports’ 2009 Face of America Bike Ride!

Comments

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great work

keep this coming

it is appreciated