The Brief
- U.S. Marine veteran Mike Delancey marked the 20th anniversary of surviving a sniper attack in Iraq by leading the 11th annual Alive Ride Tuesday.
- About 100 cyclists completed the 11-mile police-escorted route through Pinellas Park, visiting local schools, City Hall and a fire station.
- Delancey founded the Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch in 2015 on land donated by the city to keep veterans outside and active.
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – Roughly 100 bicyclists took to the streets with a police escort Tuesday morning, riding 11 miles through Pinellas Park.
Marine veteran ‘Alive Ride’
What we know:
It’s known as the Alive Ride, and was created by Marine veteran Mike Delancey to mark what he calls his alive day. It’s the anniversary of the day he survived a sniper attack in Iraq 20 years ago on Sept. 1, 2006. The bullet left him paralyzed from the waist down, but Delancey views the date as a rebirth.
“Since my injury, I’ve done way more than I would have ever dreamt,” Delancey said. “So, in a way, this wheelchair that I’m in has sort of been a blessing.”
The annual ride, now in its 11th year, serves a dual purpose: Getting veterans active in the outdoors and connecting them directly with the community. Starting and ending at the OCC Roadhouse, the cyclists made stops at local schools, City Hall and a fire station.
Pinellas Park veteran support
What they’re saying:…