Team 4Mil Wounded Warrior Nieves Rodriguez and team member Risa Riepma got the ride of their life this last weekend at the annual Livestrong, Ride For The Roses in Austin, TX. Thanks to FRS, both members were treated to some behind the scenes action which set the stage for the weekend of a life time!
Nieves is an Army veteran and wounded warrior who nearly lost his right arm in a vehicle accident while serving in Iraq. He is a role model for perseverance and service which has been demonstrated by his quest to live life to the fullest and help other wounded soldiers do the same. His love of cycling is what brought him together with Team 4Mil. Risa has been a team member since 2010
As part of the VIP treatment, Nieves and Risa participated in a riveting tour of the LIvestrong Foundation Headquarters in Austin, TX. Risa noted at the tour that seemingly different missions of Team 4Mil and Livestrong exhibited some similarities. The two organizations aim to bring awareness to a critical cause, motivate people faced with great personal hardship and support that personal journey of recovery as each individual aims to overcome challenges.
The tone of the weekend was set on Friday evening when both Nieves and Risa had the opportunity to enjoy dinner at Lance Armstrong’s personal residence! The event was attended by top Livestrong fundraisers for the prior year. Nieves noted it was an opportunity of a lifetime, a rare chance to spend a fleeting moment with an icon of the sport of cycling. Risa will deploy to Afghanistan in just 2 months and this experience will surely give her some bragging rights on the warfront.
The final event of the weekend was the actual cycling event. Although Nieves is an experienced cyclists and Risa, a new beginner, Nieves eased her nerves by stating that they would ride the entire 90 miles together. This took Risa a bit by surprise as she had planned on signing up for the 60 mile option. Nieves assured her “he would never leave a soldier behind” which turned out to be comforting words as they both set out for the epic 90 mile adventure with about two thousands other riders. The two finished the ride in just over 6 hours and both agreed that the weekend was something they would remember for the rest of their lives! What a great kick off for Team 4Mil as the organization prepares for the 2012 Race Across America! Big thanks to FRS for making this happen!
