2016 Texas Challenge - Day 4
Friday, April 15, 2016

Day 4 - Thursday, April 14 - Ft. Hood - Waco, TX
UnitedHealthcare Texas Challenge
Day 4 - Thursday, April 14
Started at: Fort Hood, Killeen, TX Ended at: Waco, TX Approximate miles ridden: 73 Total Challenge miles ridden: 308
In the news - click headline to view article:
Day 4 is the day that
everyone talked about - the ride through Ft. Hood. "The Great Place"
is one of the finest experiences of any day on any Challenge all year. The
command at Ft. Hood invites all of the units on post to come line the road as
the riders head out to Waco, but riders must first navigate the four miles across the
main part of the post lined with more than 20,000 soldiers! |
General Linda McFarland sends riders off
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This year the post has many units deployed to the Middle East as part of the effort to defeat ISIS including the CG, Gen McFarland, so it was nice to see Linda McFarland send us off today. |
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Bianca Reynolds & Michelle Cassabon
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Tradition dictates that all of the soldiers from Ft. Hood lead us. There are more than a dozen riders from the Project HERO WTB participating in the ride, including two first-time recumbent riders Bianca Reynolds and Michelle Cassabon, seen above.
Bianca has been in the army for six years and suffered a serious back and TBI when training in Italy during parachute training. She was transferred to the Ft. Hood WTB in January and soon met Jesus Chavez who helps run the Project HERO on base and encouraged her to ride. She hopes to ride an upright bike after some more therapy on the compressed discs in her back.
Michelle was recommended by her nurse, Judy who is also riding to help mentor the two female service members, who both hope to participate in the upcoming Women's Initiative event this coming June.
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On day 5, Friday, April 15, the ride continues north to Cleburne and no doubt some tremendous displays of patriotism will come from the local communities and all of the school children that traditionally line the route.
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