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News | Oct. 25, 2016

QAs ride 60 miles to support fellow vets

By DCMA Springfield

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2016 — Three Defense Contract Management Agency quality assurance employees participated in a cycling event to raise awareness of veteran issues.

Rick Nelson from headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia, Edward Saunders from the Navy Special Emphasis Operations in Cleveland, Ohio, and Edward Lowden from DCMA Springfield, New Jersey, participated in the Ride 2 Recovery Honor Ride Sept. 10. The ride is a 60-mile cycling event held in different cities, including Washington, D.C.

The annual event is a Project Hero fundraiser, which provides support to ill and healing veterans to improve their physical and mental health, including rehabilitation and reintegration services. The ride, which is a non-competitive cycling event, allows the public to ride alongside healing veterans.

The three friends chose this race to bond with each other because they enjoy cycling and all have either served or currently serve in the military. Lowden is a master sergeant in the New Jersey Air National Guard. Saunders retired from active duty as an Air Force master sergeant, and Nelson retired from the Army as a warrant officer.

“This was the first time all of us rode together,” said Lowden. “We chose this fundraising event to give back to our service members who have given so much for their country. We had a great time.

The three arrived here on Sept. 9, and did a 20-mile warm up to prepare for the race.  

“There are numerous veterans who suffer from various wounds, whether visible or not,” said Lowden. “This particular ride was one that was near and dear to all of our hearts. All of us have served our county with DCMA working contingency contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we’re also all veterans. We’re proud that we raised money for an important cause, and we hope to make this an annual event.”