MIAMI – A bike ride for the Wounded Warrior Project wrapped up Thursday morning at Marlins Park.
People cheered as wounded veterans took off down Ocean Drive to begin their four-day, 48-mile ride.
"The most thing I'm looking forward to here is getting sweaty and getting down to it," Sebastiana Lopez Arellano said.
Lopez Arellano, an Air Force staff sergeant, enlisted in 2009 and is still on active duty.
She was injured in a motorcycle accident state-side, and this is her first ride with the Wounded Warrior Project.
"It's already been life-changing," she said. "It reminds you (that) you have the ability to whatever you want."
"It's the beginning of this journey for a lot of these folks that haven't been on a bicycle of any type since they have been injured," event organizer Nick Kraus said. "The comradery they will begin today -- we are very excited."
The Wounded Warrior Project helps military veterans connect and raise awareness of the needs they have after serving overseas.
"Some of them lost legs, arms, (have) PTSD," Alex Ayala, who served 27 years in the Army, said. "This is one of the best things. They could come back and feel back to what we call normal. It's a great honor to be with them."
Those taking part in the event rode 10 miles Thursday from Miami Beach to Marlins Park. On Friday, they will head to the Keys, riding over the Seven Mile Bridge and ending in Key West on Sunday.