Will also stop at the Brasel Building in Dow City

A group of Naval Academy graduates will stop in Denison on Sunday on a bicycle trek from Seattle to Annapolis.

The group is the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1983, and the members are raising funds to support other veterans that need help.

The cyclists will arrive in Denison the afternoon of September 17 and will depart at 7 a.m. the next day from Cobblestones Inn & Suites at Majestic Hills.

Each day begins with 22 pushups to bring awareness to the many suicide prevention resources available to end suicide among service members, veterans and their families.

The public is invited to cheer on the cyclists, do some pushups with them and help the veteran organizations the trip is supporting.

Before riding into Denison on Sunday, the cyclists are scheduled to stop at the Brasel Building in Dow City at 4 p.m. The public is invited to stop in and welcome the cyclists and learn about the mission of the trip.

The group’s 10-year goal is to raise $1.983 million to support organizations that serve veterans. The digits in the dollar amount match the year of graduation.

Their hope is that what they are doing will become a model for other Annapolis classes and for people they meet on the way – the power of the moral, mental and physical mission of the U.S. Naval Academy.

A goal is to build class camaraderie for its 40th reunion this fall, to give back to those who have given so much, to become more fit and to make new friends while having a lot of fun on the trip.

The journey started on August 23 when the cyclists dipped the rear wheels of their bikes in the Puget Sound at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. It will end when the front wheels of the bike are dipped in the Severn River at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 5. That date marks the 40th reunion of the Class of 1983.

Between the beginning and end are 3,423 miles, 44 city stops and a change in altitude of 113,059 feet.

A total of 75 people associated with the class of 1983 are riding at various points along the route with 16 completing the entire trip. A support truck accompanies the cyclists.

They travel about 75 miles a day.

According to information about the group, the idea for the coast-to-coast ride started with a couple of die-hard cyclists five years ago at the 35th reunion of the class. They started to do weeklong training rides each year, and worked out the logistics and training required for the trip.

The final day of the trip will start at Arlington Cemetery where the Class of 1983 members will join with the Class of 1973 members who are on a similar cross-country ride. The cyclists will honor fallen classmates, including astronaut William “Willie” McCool from the class of 1983. 

Approximately 100 rides were cycle to the Naval Academy and ring the Herndon Bell recently donated by the Class of 1983 and finish by dipping their wheels in the Bay.

The following are among the Veteran causes the cyclists are supporting.,

• United States Naval Academy Alumni Foundation

• Challenged Athletes Foundation / Operation Rebound

• Operation Heal Our Patriots / Samaritan’s Purse

• Team Rubicon

• Fisher House Foundation

• Navy Marine Corps Relief Society

• Chaplain Care

• EOD Warrior Foundation

All of the proceeds raised by the Navy ’83 Ride Across America will go towards these causes. Donations can be made at http://www.navy-cycling.com/take-action.

More information is available on the Navy 83 Ride Across America page.

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