About 40 wounded veterans from multiple western U.S. states gathered in Colorado Springs on Thursday for a two-day bicycling event aimed toward improving their physical and mental well-being.

Soldier Ride, an adaptive cycling program spearheaded by the Wounded Warrior Project, is a national multi-day event designed to support post-9/11 veterans as they heal from physical and mental injuries.

“The goal of Soldier Ride is to engage warriors, connect them with other warriors, and empower them by showing them that that they’re not done living life,” said Jonas Harmon, associate director of the program. “We want to show them that they can still do things post-injury and illness.”

One of the Wounded Warrior Project’s first support programs, Soldier Ride has helped tens of thousands of injured veterans incorporate movement into their recovery regimens, Harmon said.

“We want to get them active, get them involved, and encourage them to take a holistic approach to their overall health,” he said.

James Herrera, WWP’s vice president of physical health and wellness, said there’s a direct link between physical activity and mental health.

“Movement is a pretty critical part of mental health and well-being,” said Herrera, an Army veteran.

“When the body’s moving, it improves our mental processes. Physical movement is at least as impactful as cognitive behavioral therapy or pharmaceutical interventions. We want to incorporate all those strategies.”

Soldier Ride also helps relieve some of the isolation that wounded veterans experience, Herrera said.

“It helps veterans engage with other veterans, and lets them know there are other people dealing with the same issues,” he said.

Veteran Eric Dahl agreed with Herrera’s assertion.

“(Soldier Ride) forces you to get out of the house, so you’re not homebound,” said Dahl, who suffers from physical and mental ailments connected with his 20+ years in the Army.

“It lets you connect with other people, and lets you know that you’re not alone. I don’t like going out a lot, but I do like this event.”

WWP officials stress that Soldier Ride is not a race. The point of Wednesday’s bike ride was for veterans to participate in an event together, so the group rides at the pace of the slowest rider.

“It doesn’t matter who finishes first,” said event coordinator Kervin Quinones. “What matters is that everyone enjoys the activity.”

Like all Wounded Warrior Project programs, Soldier Ride is free of charge for participating veterans. The nonprofit takes care of travel expenses and provides the bikes, many of which are customized to accommodate various physical injuries.

“Some of our veterans have lost the use of a leg, or an arm, or can’t use their hands very well,” Quinones said. “We outfit the bikes to allow for that.”

Members of Colorado Springs police and fire departments were on hand for the event. About a dozen officers were on motorcycles to provide an escort through the city. Others showed up on their bikes to ride alongside the veterans.

“Veterans and first responders have a lot in common,” said CSPD spokesman Ira Cronin, who biked with the group. “To ride with people who have served and sacrificed — it’s an honor. Also, there’s just something about being on a bike that’s therapeutic.”

The first of two planned rides, the Thursday event kicked off at CSFD Fire Station No. 18 in northwest Colorado Springs, following a route through Garden of the Gods Park and the downtown area before ending at Fire Station Headquarters on Printers Parkway.

About a dozen CSPD motorcycle officers provided a safety escort for the veterans.

“We get such an amazing response from our first-responder community,” Herrera said. “I think those who serve in the military, and those who serve in the first-responder community, they just get each other, and they embrace each other.”

A second ride, beginning at the Hotel Polaris outside the Air Force Academy’s north gate and ending at Fire Station No. 1 on Weber Street, was scheduled for Friday.

“We are here to serve those who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms and the (lives) that we’re allowed to live,” said Harmon. “I’m a civilian, so this is my way of serving them.”