BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Retreat's fifth annual Ride for Heroes, held Aug. 16, set a record for attendance and fundraising by attracting 287 participants and raising more than $20,000 for the hospital's Uniformed Service Program.
The ride, with an escort from the Windham County Sheriff's Department, began on the Retreat's campus and continued on a 70-mile tour through Wilmington, Whitingham, and Searsburg before returning to the Retreat for a barbeque lunch.
The day began with Retreat employee Donny Richard welcoming the riders and speaking about the needs of uniformed professionals everywhere who have experienced trauma in their public service.
WTSA's Tim Johnson sang the national anthem, Pastor Cheryl Meachen offered a blessing, and Mark Hynes spoke on safety before the riders embarked on their Windham County tour.
On returning to campus, the riders enjoyed a barbeque lunch and a raffle, and heard from a former Uniformed Service Program client who spoke about the program and its role in his recovery.
This year, for the first time, participants were invited to raise funds individually by collecting pledges from family and friends. Twenty-seven “Ride Champions” raised $100 or more for the cause. Collectively, the Ride Champions raised more than $9,000 for the event.
The top three Ride Champions were Randy Clark, Terry Emond, and Colin Young.
“We are amazed by the outpouring of generosity towards this year's Ride for Heroes,” said Konstantin von Krusenstiern, the Retreat's vice president of strategy and development.
“The collective support from the sponsors, attendees, Ride Champions, and donors was nothing short of astounding. It was a beautiful day and we are so grateful to everyone who came out to show their support,” he added.
The Uniformed Service Program, founded in 2009, provides specialized treatment and support to military personnel, law enforcement, firefighters, corrections officers, and EMTs who face post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other issues stemming from their duty.
Funds from Ride for Heroes underwrite recreational therapy, financial assistance for patients, and outreach to ensure those who need mental health and addiction care can access the Retreat's Uniformed Service Program.