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Despite pain and injuries, wounded vets head out on cycling trip

Reported by: Elizabeth Dinh
Email: edinh@wfts.com
Last Update: 12/12/2009 10:28 pm
TAMPA, FL -- The day starts with a pep talk.

The trip more than 200 veterans will head out on, will last six days.

Army veteran Nathan Hunt from San Antonio, Texas has been through three tours overseas, but he's about to go on a different kind of mission.

"And here, they're helping let soldiers accomplish new goals," he said. "Difficult goals in letting them see what they can accomplish."

The challenge is called the Ride 2 Recovery. They'll ride 55 miles a day.

Cpl. Brittney Hutchins with the Marine Corps flew in from San Diego just for this journey.

"It's a big accomplishment, it's really self-empowering."

In a car crash two years ago, she had a traumatic brain injury and broke several bones on the left side of her body.

"I'm very very nervous," she admitted. "A lot of people would've never thought with the extent of the injuries that I had that I would have ever been able to do something like this."

Nearby, Nathan is ready to go too.

The retired soldier lost his legs during an attack in Baghdad. For this journey, he must use a hand bike.

He says challenges like the Ride 2 Recovery help make vets like him feel stronger, despite having wounds that have changed their lives.

"There's people here that still have injuries that are still hurting them that are still coming out here trying to push themselves."

The trip is a 350-mile journey more than 200 men and women are taking on. The group will arrive in Jacksonville on Thursday. Their stops include the Florida Gators football stadium, The Swamp as well as the Jacksonville and Indianapolis football game.
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