At the Santa Monica pier on September 11, 2015, The Heroes Project held its 3rd annual Cycle for Heroes. The event drew a bigger turnout than last year and once again sold out. It’s great to see more people coming out to support our Heroes.

Cycle for Heroes is a three-hour rock ‘n’ roll-inspired stationary cycling event that includes participants, military vets, and the best indoor cycling instructors in Southern California. The Heroes Project chose September 11 so that we Angelenos could honor those affected by the 9/11 attacks.

We are riding for our Heroes.

The event kicked off with special guest Annie Bosko singing her rendition of “God Bless America” as the color guard walked in the center. The crowd watched in silence and respect. During completion of Annie singing, four fighter jets flew overhead in missing man formation to honor the dead. Sebastian Bach, a singer of the former band Skid Row, then took the stage to sing the National Anthem.

Throughout the evening some 400 riders pedaled and sweated to rock music. Participants and guests were fed with food provided by Tender Greens and they were refreshed with Pabst’s beer. Along with The Heroes Project, core sponsors were Equinox and Chrome Hearts.

Wonderful to see not only our Heroes, veterans, and civilians supporting the event but our local Firefighters of Santa Monica as well. Who can resist grabbing a photo with these handsome men in uniform?

The best part of the event was hearing the Heroes talk about what The Heroes Project has meant to them and how our support has pushed them through adversity.

With two of the Heroes themselves, USMC Cpl. Brad Ivanchan and USMC SSGT Charlie Linville.

Brad lost both of his legs when he stepped on an 8- to 12-pound pressure plate IED in Afghanistan in March of 2012. Brad joined The Heroes Project to conquer his challenges and accomplished new things. In March of 2013, he summited Aconcagua, Argentina, a 22,838 foot peak.

Charlie’s team responded to an IED detonation. While conducting a sweep of the surrounding area, Charlie was struck by a tertiary device. The IED blew Charlie into the air and brought him directly down into the blast crater. The explosion inflicted multiple injuries. Charlie lost his foot to a below-the-knee amputation in the summer of 2013 after fighting for more than a year to save it. Despite his injuries and debilitating pain, he agreed to team up with The Heroes Project and climb Mount Everest in the spring of 2014. During his first attempt, the team cancelled due to a large avalanche that hit the peak right before their turn to climb. Killing 12, it was the deadliest accident on Mount Everest. Charlie’s second attempt was in April of 2015. Charlie and The Heroes Project team arrived at South Camp two days before the deadliest Earthquake hit Nepal, killing more than 9,000 and injuring more than 23,000.

Charlie, geared up and prepared for his third attempt in the spring of 2016. Coming soon, follow up…

With Tim Medvetz, the man who makes it all happen, and good friend Annie Bosko

Full video of event:

Update: September 11, 2016  ‘The Heroes Project’ held their 6th Annual Cycle For Heroes fundraiser. We again came together for the same cause and same support for our Heroes and those affected by 9/11. Although we as well celebrated the biggest accomplishment yet…Charlie Linville has now become the 1st combat amputee to summit Mount Everest. Linville summited the highest peak in the world on May 19, 2016. 

Thank you Heroes for inspiring us all to never let adversity challenge our limits within ourselves. Our minds and bodies are stronger than we can comprehend, until we are put to the test to have no choice other than push past those challenges.