From left to right, warrior Melanie Schnitt cycling, warrior Saha Kumar kayaking and warrior Natalie Greene mountain biking.
WINDHAM — The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) concluded its Warriors in Motion® (WIM) Multisport event Thursday, giving veterans the opportunity to cycle, kayak and mountain bike over three days in the fresh mountain air.
“I had a wonderful time. This event was very, very calming,” U.S. Army and Air Force veteran Natalie Greene said. “Everybody here was so polite, the accommodations were great and I would love to come back for more warrior events with the ASF.”
Greene and five other veterans arrived at the ASF's Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center on Tuesday afternoon, where they met ASF staff members and volunteers assisting with the event. They also spent time getting to know one another over lunch. After introductions, the veterans were fitted for bicycles and safety equipment before heading out on a ride around Windham.
The group cycled from the ASF lodge into Hensonville before making its way to Elm Ridge. Participants rode up Old Road and returned to Main Street in Windham before completing the 13-mile loop back at the ASF lodge. They then checked into their hotel and relaxed before returning to the lodge for a catered dinner.
Wednesday morning began with a six-mile ride from the ASF lodge to CD Lane Park in Maplecrest. Shortly after 9 a.m., the veterans departed for the park, where kayaks and life jackets awaited them for the day's second activity.
The group spent about 90 minutes paddling on the lake before some participants opted for a mountain bike ride while others chose to eat lunch early.
After lunch, several veterans returned to the trails for more mountain biking, while others relaxed along the shoreline. The activity-filled day concluded with a ride back to the ASF lodge before participants returned to their hotel to rest and clean up.
Later that evening, the veterans returned for a special dinner prepared by a group of ASF volunteers known as the "Kitchen Crew." This group of volunteers oversee the ASF's winter lunch program and have prepared several dinners during this summer's WIM events as a way to thank veterans for their service.
The final morning of the event brought the veterans to Colgate Lake in nearby Jewett for a relaxing paddle. The peaceful setting provided a fitting conclusion to a week filled with physical activity and new challenges. After several hours on the water, participants returned to the ASF lodge for lunch and one final opportunity to share camaraderie before departing.
“I think programs like this are important to get people out of their house to meet fellow vets,” Greene said. “A lot of retired military servicemembers don't go out or meet with other veterans. I think the camaraderie we get from these events is important and it helps a lot of people.”
The next WIM event is scheduled for July 14-16, when the ASF will take veterans into the woods of the Northern Catskills for a three-day mountain biking experience.
