Summary
A recap of eight injured veterans who cycled over 60 miles in the ASF's Warriors in Motion Road Cycling Program from May 19-21.
WINDHAM, N.Y. — The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) welcomed eight veterans for its second three-day Warriors in Motion (WIM) road cycling event during which they traveled more than 60 miles throughout the week.
“I was here for both road cycling events this year, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to come cycling through this program,” U.S. Army veteran Jacob Kuczynski said. “The last time I participated in a WIM program was in 2017. Just to have an event that gets us out and exercising is huge.”
The veterans arrived at the ASF’s Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center on Tuesday afternoon, where they were greeted by ASF staff members and volunteers who would ride alongside them throughout the week. As the warriors arrived, smiles, laughter and stories quickly filled the lodge. Participants enjoyed lunch, formal introductions, a rundown of the week’s schedule and an important safety tutorial on overheating, as participants faced temperatures in the 90s. After being fitted for bikes and equipment, the cyclists departed around 1:30 p.m. for a ride to Prattsville.
The ride began at the ASF lodge as the group headed west on Route 23. They turned onto County Route 17 and began a long climb into Jewett. The group rode the length of Route 17 before turning right onto County Route 23A. They remained on that road until reaching Prattsville Town Park, completing a 17-mile trip. After checking into their hotel, the veterans returned to the ASF lodge for dinner and more camaraderie.
On Wednesday, the veterans were picked up from their hotel at 9 a.m. and shuttled to New York’s Capital Region to begin a ride on the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, a section of the Empire State Trail. The group started in East Greenbush at Hampton Manor Lake around 10:15 a.m. They headed south along the trail for 22 miles before stopping at Rothermel Park in Kinderhook for an extended lunch break. Given the option to continue into Hudson or end the ride for the day, every participant chose to continue, completing another 11 miles to cap a 33-mile ride.
The ASF shuttle brought the group back to Windham to rest at their hotel before another dinner at the ASF lodge. Wednesday’s dinner was provided by the ASF Kitchen Crew, a group of volunteers who dedicate their time to preparing lunches during the ASF’s winter program. The crew prepared a special dinner for the veterans during the trip. Veterans dined on salmon, steak, potatoes, vegetables and salads after a long day on their bikes.
The final ride of the week came Thursday morning shortly after the veterans checked out of their hotel and arrived at the ASF. The WIM group hopped on their bikes one final time and rode from the ASF lodge to CD Lane Park and back, a route totaling approximately 12 miles and bringing the week’s total mileage to about 63 miles.
“It’s a special opportunity to come back and hang out with veterans and build that camaraderie that we miss every day,” Kuczynski said. “Adaptive sports programs are huge for us veterans. After I first got out of the military, I felt like I hated everyone, but I came to Windham for my first WIM program and saw other folks with disabilities. I realized there was a whole other world people don’t experience, and that put things in perspective and made everything better for me.”
The ASF will trade land for water in three weeks as the WIM Kayaking Program takes place June 9-11.
About the Warriors in Motion Program
The Warriors in Motion program provides injured U.S. servicemen and women with a foundation in wellness and lifelong healthy living. All programs are goal-oriented and empower participants to take charge of their fitness and well-being. For more information or to register, visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org/military-programs.
About the Adaptive Sports Foundation
For more than 40 years, the Adaptive Sports Foundation has provided sports and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The organization offers year-round programming from the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center in Windham. Its mission is to provide life-changing experiences through outdoor physical activity, education, support and community.