Retired Coast Guard Officer To Visit Fredericksburg, DC On 2,100-Mile Charity Bike Ride

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Retired U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jodie Knox is scheduled to arrive in Fredericksburg on Tuesday, May 5, as part of a 2,100-mile solo cycling journey from Key West, Florida, to Kittery, Maine.

The ride, titled "Wheels of Grit," is a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project and Achilles International. As of mid-April, Knox had raised almost $13,000 toward her $30,000 goal.

Knox, a disabled veteran, began her 42-day odyssey on April 9. Her route follows the East Coast Greenway and includes daily stops at American Legion and VFW posts to highlight them as resources for veteran connection. She's planning to visit VFW Post 3103 in Fredericksburg.

"The connection I find at local posts is something I want every veteran to experience," Knox said. "These posts aren't relics; they are cornerstones where veterans find each other."

Knox is traveling between 60 and 80 miles per day. Following her overnight stay in Fredericksburg, she will depart Wednesday, May 6, for a 65-mile leg to Washington, D.C., her current hometown.

Upcoming Itinerary:

• May 2: Durham, NC, to Clarksville, VA (56 miles)
• May 3: Clarksville to McKenney (78 miles)
• May 4: McKenney to Richmond (60 miles)
• May 5: Richmond to Fredericksburg (70 miles) + Visit to VFW Post 3103.
• May 6: Fredericksburg to Washington, D.C. (65 miles)

Knox plans to take two rest days in the District, where she lives on a boat at the Wharf, before resuming her trip toward Baltimore on May 9.

Knox’s mission was prompted by a 2022 accident in which she was struck by a car while on active duty. She sustained a traumatic brain injury and fractures to her back and hips. Because the injuries limited her ability to walk or run, she turned to cycling as her primary method of physical activity.

"Cycling gave me back the feeling that I am still capable, still strong, and can go as far as I want," Knox said.

The journey has presented physical challenges, including 29-knot headwinds and narrow shoulders on the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys. Knox is supported on the trip by a vehicle driver who manages logistics and hotel arrangements.

According to the Wounded Warrior Project’s most recent Warrior Report, 64.1 percent of surveyed veterans use exercise to manage pain, and 75.5 percent reported that pain interfered with their daily activities. Knox said she hopes her ride motivates others who feel "stuck" due to disability or other life circumstances.

"This ride isn't just about miles; it's about proving to anyone who feels stuck that you don't have to jump from 'I can't' to 'I can,'" Knox said. "You just have to get to 'I can try.'"