The annual Cycle to the Sea ride raises awareness and advocacy for individuals with physical challenges while providing critical support for the Adaptive Sports & Adventures Program (ASAP) at Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation. The ride, which begins at Atrium Health Union in Monroe, NC and ends in North Myrtle Beach, SC, typically takes place over the course of three days and involves numerous volunteers, able-bodied and adaptive cyclists, and ASAP administrators.
To ensure the health and safety of participants this year, the event has been divided into six segments—with individuals or small groups completing one portion of the race. The 180-mile course will be completed on Thursday, November 12.
Pictured (left to right): Participating in this segment of the race are Bob Roberts and Brian Muscarella.
Cycle to the Sea provides a unique opportunity for experienced and novice riders to set goals and overcome them as a team. Since its inception in 1999, Cycle to the Sea has raised more than $1.1 million for ASAP, which provides competitive and recreational adaptive sport opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities and supports and promotes the achievement of personal goals of adaptive athletes.
“Not only does Cycle to the Sea financially assist ASAP programming, with it being our largest fundraiser of the year, but it also provides a challenging opportunity for athletes to set goals and focus on what they can accomplish rather than what they cannot. Although this year’s event posed as a challenge, we wanted to still provide that opportunity, as well as thank all of our sponsors and donors for their commitments to ASAP,” shared Rebecca Smith, LRT/CTRS, Recreation Therapist, Adaptive Sports & Adventures Program, Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation.
The 2020 Cycle to the Sea ride was made possible by Adaptive Sports & Adventures Program and sponsors Farm Bureau – Rutherford, Rapid Mortgage Company, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions, Poppy Made It, Robbins Auto Parts, Gatorade and Team FREAK.
Every day, Carolinas Rehabilitation delivers high-quality inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care for people of all ages who have suffered life-altering injuries and disease processes, such as spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, cancer and other injuries and diseases. As a not-for-profit hospital, Carolinas Rehabilitation relies on private philanthropic support to provide much of the additional personnel and equipment needed to develop and sustain innovative programs, such as the Adaptive Sports and Adventures Program.
With your help, Carolinas Rehabilitation can continue to offer a variety of programs to youth and adults with physical challenges in the Charlotte community and surrounding areas at little or no cost to the participants.