The Warrior Ride’s Coastal Carolina Tour is getting ready to roll through the area.
From Wednesday, Sept. 26, through Saturday, Sept. 29, the Cape Fear Region will play host to The Warrior Ride, a nonprofit organization aimed at rehabilitation for wounded war heroes through adaptive sports such as cycling.
Oak Island residents Bob and Debra Racine founded The Warrior Ride, and through fundraising and grants, are able to cover the costs associated with the rides and other events at no cost to the warriors who participate.
Debra Racine said about 30 warriors will participate in the four-day event.
“Bicycles are adapted to fit any injuries, and we plan to cycle about 30 miles a day for the next three days,” Debra Racine said.
She said the warriors were looking forward to “Recreation, rehabilitation, camaraderie, plus warm welcomes as we travel through Brunswick County.”
The warriors arrived at the Golden Sands Motel in Carolina Beach on Wednesday. From there, plans called for them to take the Southport-Fort Fisher ferry to Southport on Thursday morning.
At 10 a.m. Thursday there will be an event at Southport’s Waterfront Park.
From downtown Southport, the warriors will cycle up N.C. 211 to Virginia Williamson Elementary School, where they will meet with students and teachers around 1:45 p.m., Debra Racine said.
On Friday, Sept. 28, cycling begins in downtown Shallotte and ends at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Calabash. The warriors will stop at Shallotte Middle School on their ride Friday.
On Saturday, members of the community are invited to ride with the warriors on Oak Island.
Registration for Saturday’s event begins at 7:30 a.m. at Middleton Park on Oak Island Drive at Southeast 48th Street on Oak Island.
In addition to the community ride, there will be arts and crafts vendors, a kids’ splash pool, rock-climbing wall, food and a silent auction from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
“The most important thing our citizens can do is get out and say ‘thank you,’” Debra Racine said.
For more information or to register for Saturday’s community ride visit www.thewarriorride.org or call (910) 616-6977.
