World T.E.A.M. Sports Hosts ''Face of America 2005'' Bike Ride to Honor Disabled Soldiers

BRIGHTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2005--

Riders, Volunteers and Sponsors Sought for 110-Mile Ride From Gettysburg to Walter Reed Army Medical Center

“And, for the able-bodied participants, it's an opportunity to not only show these soldiers that we care, but also to be inspired by them and learn about their physical and emotional challenges.”

World T.E.A.M. Sports, which creates inclusive sports teams using the powerful platform of sports to bring together the disabled and able-bodied communities, today announced a partnership with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. to host "Face of America 2005" - a 110-mile bike ride on September 17-18 to honor newly disabled soldiers returning from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

The ride will team able-bodied individuals with disabled individuals, including newly disabled soldiers, on a route from Gettysburg, Penn., to Frederick, Md., and then on to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The able-bodied participants, volunteers and sponsors will have the honor of sharing in the physical and emotional challenges of a soldier learning to deal with his or her limitations.

"Face of America 2005 is a journey infused with inspiration, encouragement and hope that will honor men and women who have suffered injuries in the service of their country. For disabled participants, their continued acceptance and integration into sports is an inspiration that carries over to many other aspects of their lives. These goals are what Face of America 2005 and World T.E.A.M. Sports are all about," said Chris Carrigg, executive director of World T.E.A.M. Sports. "And, for the able-bodied participants, it's an opportunity to not only show these soldiers that we care, but also to be inspired by them and learn about their physical and emotional challenges."

The 2005 ride is the fourth Face of America organized by World T.E.A.M. Sports. Like previous efforts, this ride is about meeting challenges, a sense of camaraderie, and developing the lasting knowledge that ALL of the participants are integral members of our society.

Anyone interested in participating in the Face of America 2005 bike ride - as a rider, a volunteer or a sponsor - can obtain more information at: www.worldteamsports.org. One hundred percent of every dollar raised in this event will go to further the World T.E.A.M. Sports mission: creating sports programs that integrate disabled and able-bodied participants to form a true T.E.A.M.

About World T.E.A.M. Sports

World T.E.A.M. (The Exceptional Athlete Matters) Sports creates inclusive sports TEAMS; using the powerful platform of sports to bring together the disabled and able-bodied communities. World T.E.A.M. Sports has created inclusive sports TEAMS all over the world, including a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro; a bike ride the length of Vietnam bringing veterans from both sides of the Vietnam war together; the Face of America cycling journeys; and programs that teach life skills and character training skills to inner-city youths.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Members of the print and broadcast media are welcome to participate in face of America 2005 as embedded riders or media sponsors.