PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Dozens of bike riders took part in the annual Wounded Warriors Alive Day ride in Pinellas Park, raising money for the Wounded Warriors Ability Ranch and its work helping injured veterans stay active.
The ride marks the day Pinellas Park native and Marine Corps veteran Mike Delancey was shot and paralyzed while serving in Iraq. Delancey, who is president of the Wounded Warriors Ability Ranch, said the event is centered on helping veterans leave the house, stay active and connect with others.
“We want to get injured veterans out and active. That’s our tagline,” Delancey said.
Riders came out for different reasons. Some said they wanted to support organizations in their local community.
“I love being part of the local community, and I love doing active things,” biker Dre-an Roberts said.
Others, including veterans, said they wanted to support fellow service members who were injured.
“I’m a vet myself, disabled vet,” biker Larry Smith said. “When I got a call from the VA asking for riders, I decided to come over and ride for the vets.”
Delancey said this year’s ride carries extra meaning because it marks his Alive Day and comes during the 25th anniversary of 9/11. He said the attacks were one of the reasons he decided to serve.
Delancey said he still remembers being a sophomore in high school on Sept. 11, 2001.
“It’s kind of weird because they never hold you from class in between periods,” Delancey said. “And when I got there, everything was on TV, and I didn’t understand what was going on.”
Since then, Delancey has become a leader in the veteran community through the Wounded Warriors Ability Ranch. He said creating opportunities for injured veterans to be active can have a meaningful impact.
“When a veteran gets out and has something to strive for, something to start working out, feeling better about themselves, coming around a community of people with similar injuries, it does wonders for who they are as a person,” Delancey said.