In 2004, Chris Carney from Long Island, New York, completed a coast-to-coast bicycle ride in support of the Wounded Warrior Project. This was the first of what would become an annual event, Soldier Ride.

In 2005, Chris again conducted a coast-to coast-ride, this time with Staff Sergeants Heath Calhoun and Ryan Kelley, as well as other combat-wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2006, Soldier Ride made a third trip across the country, with Sergeant Drew Biddle, Staff Sergeant Yegor Bondarenko, and many more combat-wounded veterans.

In 2007, Soldier Ride switched to a regional ride format with seven regional rides across the country. This provided the opportunity for increased local participation. Soldier Ride also added registered fundraiser rides to the schedule, allowing the general public to ride along with the wounded veterans and help raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

This year’s Hamptons Soldier Ride will take place Saturday, July 25th. Go to woundedwarriorproject.org or empirestatechallenge.org for more information and schedules.

Lynn Follenius, president of EH Rotary, and Mary Siska EH Rotary board member present Chris Carney with a plaque naming him East Hampton Rotary's Person of the Year. The ceremony took place at Rotary's dinner meeting at the Bamboo Restaurant on May 11.