Veterans' Day is ongoing at Evanston Subaru

To commemorate Veterans’ Day a team of cyclists from Evanston Subaru in Skokie flew to Las Vegas, Nevada last weekend to join 800 other bicyclists in a fundraiser aimed at improving the lives America’s injured soldiers.

The annual Las Vegas Honor Ride, a 20 to 70 mile bike ride presented by Ride 2 Recovery is an event that supports healing Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan by providing a life changing experience through cycling.

Spearheading the journey to Las Vegas was Rob Paddor, owner of Evanston Subaru and supporter of numerous Veteran-helping organizations like the USO of Illinois, Ride 2 Recovery and the Wounded Warrior Project. He was join my his son, Evan Paddor, Sales Manger at the Subaru dealership, Ray Eichenlaub, Service Director, Kurt Pauli, Parts Director and Chris Erickson, a dealership employee and Program Manager of Ride 2 Recovery’s Project HERO Chicago.

Ride 2 Recovery helps injured Veterans with specially equipped bicycles and recumbents adapted to accommodate their disability. Cycling is an activity that can be enjoyed regardless of physical limitations. Ride 2 Recovery’s goal is to speed-up the recovery and rehabilitation process of America’s healing heroes.

At the Las Vegas Honor Ride, Rob Paddor presented a check for $25,000 to Ride 2 Recovery’s President and Founder, John Wordin from his dealership.

In the Chicago area, Project HERO Chicago is an organization that helps injured veterans overcome obstacles through cycling. Project HERO Chicago is a local extension of the national Project HERO, started in 2010 at Walter Reed National Military Hospital, by Ride 2 Recovery, with a proven and effective method to help Veterans overcome physical obstacles through group cycling.

Starting on November 19th and running through January 2, 2016, Evanston Subaru has picked Project HERO Chicago as beneficiary of their year-end sales promotion called, “Subaru’s Share the Love Sales Event”. Nationally, Subaru of America will donate up to $15,000,000 to numerous charities based on new Subaru sales during the event period.

Subaru’s year-end sales event, now its 7th year, donates $250 for every Subaru sold during the year-end event. For the second year, Subaru of America selected key Subaru dealerships from around the country, including Evanston Subaru in Skokie to choose a local charity to be eligible for the $250 donation. Rob Paddor said, “it took about 2-seconds” for me to choose Project HERO Chicago, because I have seen first-hand the benefits and healing they do for our Vets.” Last year Evanston Subaru matched the $10,000 Share the Love donation and presented Project HERO Chicago a check for $20,000. Paddor says he hopes to do the same this holiday season.

The Skokie dealership also hosts and is the title sponsor of the Chicago Honor Ride. Entering the third year, which is scheduled for Sunday, June 16, 2016.

To learn more about Project HERO Chicago and Ride to Recovery visit; https://ride2recovery.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoHonorRideandRun/ or visit Evanston Subaru’s website at http://www.evanstonsubaru.com/honorridechicago.htm To donation directly to Ride 2 Recovery visit, https://www.ride2recovery.com/donate.php

(Team Evanston Subaru pictured in group photo, left to right Chris Erickson, Ray Eichenlaub, Kurt Pauli, Rob Paddor, Evan Paddor Mark Killian and Kurt Grubisic)