GULF SHORES, Ala. – The American Legion Post 44 Auxiliary will provide help to a group of veteran cyclists streaming through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach on Tuesday.

About 200 riders will leave New Orleans on Sunday and ride for seven days before ending in Tallahassee on March 10. They are part of the Ride 2 Recovery, a group that strives to benefit mental and physical rehabilitation programs for wounded veterans.

On Tuesday morning the riders will depart from Mobile at 9 a.m. and have a dinner scheduled tentatively for 6 p.m. at Post 44 in Gulf Shores. The riders will enter Gulf Shores on Alabama 59 sometime after lunch and travel straight to the beach before taking a left to Orange Beach.

They will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Orange Beach.

Wayne Stacey, past commander of Post 44, said local veterans are planning on feeding the riders supper at the post around 6 p.m. Current commander Paul Knoch is working on arranging transportation from Orange Beach to Post 44 and back.

“It looks like they are going to arrive around 2:30 to 3 o’clock in Orange Beach,” Stacey said. “We intend to have a small contingent out there to sort of greet them when they come in. They’re going to be tired of course and I think the hotel has got a little food ready for them. Just some snacks to take care of them when they get off the road.

“At 6 o’clock they are supposed to come up to Post 44 in Gulf Shores for dinner. We’re going to serve them a spaghetti dinner.”

The next morning, local veterans are inviting the general public to come out and see the riders off on their way to Fort Walton.

“We plan on having a color guard there, our Legion riders, which is a motorcycle group, will be there and the general public is welcome as well,” Stacey said.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon will speak before the next leg of the journey begins.

According to www.ride2recovery.com, Ride 2 Recovery’s Project HERO supports Spinningand outdoor cycling programs at Military hospitals, Warrior Transition Units, Wounded Warrior Units and VA locations around the U.S. to help healing heroes overcome obstacles they face

The group believes cycling is an activity in which almost all patients with physical and/or psychological disabilities can participate at their individual level and Ride 2 Recovery Project HERO provides expertise, training, events and site location support to promote a fuller recovery in the rehabilitation process.

Specially adapted bikes are designed and built by Ride 2 Recovery to suit individuals’ needs, making it possible for almost everyone to participate in the program.