War And Combat Veteran Sergeant Sarah Lee Choose Life Because Of A Bike, Now She Wants To Help Other Veterans
by Heather Cassell
The cold water of the Pacific Ocean rushing over her bike tires and her feet marked the final moments of a journey that took Iraq war and combat veteran Sergeant Sarah Lee through 10 states and over 200 communities peddling a path 4,000 miles long.
It was a ride to first heal herself. Second, it was a ride to heal other veterans like herself.
Sarah enlisted in the military when she was 17-years old with her parent’s permission.
“I knew I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself,” Sarah told ABC 7 News at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California. “I wanted to contribute to this country that I love.”
Sarah served in the army for 8-years. She served with three different combat engineer units and was deployed to Iraq for 14 months in 2004.
She left the military for medical reasons after she returned from her tour of duty.
It was a very painful time for her. She went to a dark place.
“When you slow down, things start to catch up to you,” said Sarah. “You fall into a slump I guess. You forget who you are and what you are capable of. You kind of deteriorate on the inside. I wasn’t doing much. I lost friends to suicide.”
Veterans commit 20 suicides a day, veteran George Smith, a member of the Department of California of the American Legion riders chapter 82, told ABC 7 News.
A bike saved her life.
“I basically bought this bicycle rather than end my life. I chose life over death by purchasing this bicycle,” she said about the moment in 2017.
Then she just started peddling from Virginia to California.
Each pump of the peddles. Every whiz of the spokes as she sped along the roadways. All of the people she met when she rolled into a town. Healed her. The journey was her therapy. The connections where her medicine.
“A lot of healing has taken place on this journey,” Sarah said.
The journey also taught her, “We’re not as divided as we think,” she said.
“The generosity and kindness I experienced on this journey was mind-blowing,” she added.
Sarah was joined by other veterans as she rode across the Golden Gate Bridge wearing her stars and stripes bandana beneath her helmet into San Francisco.
“When I rounded the corner and saw the Pacific, my jaw got caught in my spokes” she laughed.
“I want to unite and inspire my fellow veterans to take charge of your happiness. To take control of your life. You can’t be a slave to your pain. Leave people better than I found them. That’s my favorite thing in the world. Nothing makes me happier,” said Sarah, who named her ride and organization, A Vicious Cycle.
Her goal is to help veterans reconnect with themselves and each other through nature.
“It not only brings attention to the needs to being a veteran, but it brings attention to being a woman veteran,” George said. “That’s part of the message Sarah is bringing to parts of the country. There are 20 suicides a day from veterans and we need to find a cure. We need to get the help.”
See the ABC 7 News story here:
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