Watch: Paralyzed Veteran Ends 1,500 Bike Trip In Pinellas Park

PINELLAS PARK, FL – A 1,500-mile journey for paralyzed U.S. Army veteran Ricky Raley ended at about 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25 when Raley arrived the Warrior Abilities Ranch in Pinellas Park on his hand-crank cycle.

Beginning in New York City on Aug. 13, Raley has cycled about 130 miles a day to benefit the Boot Campaign for veterans struggling with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, self-medication and insomnia.

“I lost nine people from my unit to suicide since I’ve been home,” said Raley. “People are suffering alone, and they think there is no help. My buddy just took his life. He needed to know there is group putting their boots on for him.”

The goal of Raley Road Trip: Cycling It Forward to Benefit Boot Campaign is to raise $150,000 for the national nonprofit organization’s health and wellness program.

“The trauma from being paralyzed was nowhere near the isolation I felt from the traumatic brain injury and the mental cognition issues I was having,” said Raley. “I’m doing this for all the veterans out there who need a program like Boot Campaign.”

The mission of Boot Campaign’s Health and Wellness pipeline is to provide access to the most individualized, comprehensive and holistic providers treating PTSD, TBI, chronic pain, self-medication and insomnia.

“No single organization has the ability to solve the diverse and complex challenges that face our military community,” said Boot Campaign CEO Shelly Kirkland. “Boot Campaign joins forces with like-minded entities across the country to steward veterans and their families through a life-changing experience to reclaim health and wellness, restore families, restart careers, reduce suicide and reinforce communities.”

Raley joined the Indiana Army National Guard in 2004 and his unit, known as the Avengers, conducted more than 200 combat missions and covered more than 250,000 miles in convoy escorts in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On one mission, the truck carrying Raley and his teammates tripped an IED (improvised explosive device).

Raley, along with two others in the truck at the time of the explosion, sustained mild traumatic brain injuries, for which he received the Purple Heart.

In 2009, six months and 17 days after returning from Iraq, Raley was involved in a near-fatal truck accident leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Raley’s handcycle, known as the Rubber Ducky II, was created by Top End Wheelchair and is specially designed to suit Raley’s needs.

“Top End is proud to support Ricky and Boot Campaign in their mission,” said Jon Miller, senior director of Top End Wheelchairs. “Veterans need the kind of support the Boot Campaign dedicates itself toward, and we’re excited to help Ricky in his drive to help others like him.”

“All of us at Boot Campaign have been inspired by Ricky and his dedication to continuing to serve his brothers and sisters within the military community through this physical feat of handcycling down the East Coast,” said Kirkland. “The complex health and wellness needs of the military community are expensive to treat and, by raising funds through the ‘Raley Road Trip,’ Boot Campaign will be able to fund additional veterans across the U.S. needing the best care in the country.”

"Today is the finish line of this ride but it's not over," said Raley. "This is the finish line for me but it's not the end for me. We're going to keep fighting against invisible wounds. You'll see more of me."

Raley is already planning a second road trip.

To contribute $5, text BOOTSON to 27722.

After 13 days on the road, watch the Pinellas Park Police escort Raley and his team on the final three miles of their trip.

Videos and photo courtesy Ricky Raley

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