Old Lotus Éclair Bicycle to Travel Thousands of Miles for Hope For The Warriors
(PRWEB) March 27, 2014 -- Veteran Dmitry Solominsky will pedal across the country via the TransAmerican Trail on his mid-1980s Lotus Éclair in an effort to raise funds for and attention to the effects of PTSD. The cyclist will begin his ride early in Seattle, Washington on April 1, 2014, traveling south until he hits the official cycling route which spans from Astoria, Oregon to Yorktown, Virginia. As he pedals, Solominsky will be raising funds for Hope For The Warriors®, a national nonprofit organization that assists post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty.
Solominsky, a resident of New York City, and his friend bought the Lotus Éclair on Craigslist for $100. Though unaware of the exact mileage the bike has accrued, by the time of purchase it had already gone across the country twice—once from west coast to east coast, and once from the Canadian border to the Mexico border. Born in 1983, Solominsky is just slightly older than his steel-made companion.
Solominsky freelances as a handyman, so his daily employment requires him to walk, run, and climb stairs while carrying a heavy backpack. According to him, that’s the best training he’s had for his cross-country journey. He expects his body to get used to the ride after a couple weeks, but will rest every seventh day of his trip. He will carry a basic repair kit to do his own repairs, and a cell phone with solar charger. Solominsky is currently testing a GPS tracker in hopes that friends and supporters can track his journey next month.
A service member for eight years, Solominsky is calling this trip rideSolo. After 9/11, Solominsky joined the National Guard out of New York City as a member of the 69th Infantry Regiment during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. His passion for the military convicted him to give back in a unique way. The purpose of rideSolo is to make a difference in the lives of those with PTSD.
“I am grateful beyond belief to have the opportunity to change the norm,” Solominsky said. “If I can assist even one person into…taking strides they never thought possible, I will consider this trip a success.”
Solominsky estimates the ride will take between 8-11 weeks, averaging 60-70 miles a day. Specific stops of his trip are still up in the air, as the weather is still his biggest obstacle. He is camping along the way and staying with supporters of the cycling, firefighter, and military communities. For more information on rideSolo, and to support Hope For The Warriors®, visit http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/ridesolo.
The mission of Hope For the Warriors® (http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org) is to enhance the quality of life for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty. Hope For The Warriors® is dedicated to restoring a sense of self, restoring the family unit, and restoring hope for our service members and our military families.
Hope For The Warriors® has earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org) for three consecutive years. Charity Navigator is an independent organization that evaluates fiscal responsibility and accountability of nonprofits.
Hope For The Warriors® (Federal Tax ID 20-5182295) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity as defined in sections 509(A)(1) and 170(B)(1)(A)(VI) of the Internal Revenue Code. Combined Federal Campaign, CFC #27800.
Anne Barnwell, Hope For The Warriors, http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org, +1 910-554-1505, [email protected]
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