"It is my gift to be able to help another veteran in need."
Rider Dora Vasquez-Hellner of Team RWB
For those who are interested in joining, Dora says the Ride is truly a chance for us to give back to our veterans: “Our veterans need all the support we can give them. Supporting CVLC is one way we can give back to our veterans.”
Dora Vasquez-Hellner joined The Ride last year as a member of Team Red White and Blue (Team RWB) and is returning this year as a virtual rider for the Ride for Our Vets: Virtually Together!
As an Army veteran with 23 years of service, Dora says the Ride for Our Vets is special to her.
“My mission in the past few years has been to help veterans wherever and whenever possible,” Dora says, “So being able to participate in The Ride and support my fellow veterans is the least that I can do.”
“Our veterans need all the support we can give them. Supporting CVLC is one way we can give back to our veterans.”
Dora is happy to ride virtually with Team RWB and with new friends she met at last year’s Ride. Dora says she clicked with a cheerleader at the 2019 Ride and they became Facebook friends, supporting each other in different ways throughout the year. They have been checking in on each other during this time of physical isolation and plan to ride together virtually this June.
“As a veteran, through this experience, I’ve learned that it is my gift to be able to help another veteran in need and be able to contribute in any way to the community.”
Team RWB, another veteran nonprofit organization, participates in a multitude of events like The Ride. As a member of Team RWB for over 5 years, she is proud to support CVLC while promoting the mission of Team RWB: To enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
Despite the pandemic, the organization continues to enrich the lives of veterans by promoting community with their networks online, including by joining the CVLC rider community.
Now, Dora is setting her sights on a new challenge. She originally planned on completing a 10-mile ride, but with positive progress in her training regimen, she is confident she can complete a 25-mile route to support her fellow veterans on June 13th. She is training on a very gradual pace, first starting out on a home stationary bike before conquering the great outdoors. Dora successfully completed an 11-mile ride in mid-April.
“As a veteran, through this experience, I’ve learned that it is my gift to be able to help another veteran in need,” Dora says, “and be able to contribute in any way to the community.”
When you join The Ride for Our Vets, you can join one of the many teams we have or you can create your own and invite your friends and family! With fun team challenges, like Dora, you can support veterans by promoting health through exercise and by supporting the community through comradery.
Contact Kharl Reynado (kreynado@ctveteranslegal.org) if you have questions or if you want to tell us why you ride!