IN PICTURES: WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT’S SOLDIER RIDE RETURNS TO THE KEYS

A caravan of nearly 40 cyclists made their way down sections of the Overseas Highway and across the Seven Mile Bridge for Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride this past weekend.

The annual ride is designed as an inspirational fundraiser for veterans recovering from both visible and invisible wounds of war in American military hospitals. Though several of the participants were missing one or more limbs due to previous combat injuries, they used specially adapted bicycles to travel as one unit.

The riders began in Key Largo on Friday and made their way to Key West by Saturday, ending with a community ride around the Southernmost City with members of the public. On Sunday, the crew returned to Grassy Key for Dolphin Research Center’s Charles Evans Day, where each warrior was given the opportunity to swim with DRC’s dolphins.

DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly – COLE GRIFFITH/Dolphin Research Center – NICOLE GUYTON/Dolphin Research Center – ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly – FLORIDA KEYS NEWS BUREAU/Contributed – LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly – BRITT MYERS/Keys Weekly

Alex Rickert made the perfectly natural career progression from dolphin trainer to newspaper editor in 2021 after freelancing for Keys Weekly while working full time at Dolphin Research Center. A resident of Marathon since 2015, he fell in love with the Florida Keys community by helping multiple organizations and friends rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Irma. An avid runner, actor, and spearfisherman, he spends as much of his time outside of work on or under the sea having civil disagreements with sharks.