Military veterans bike through Central Texas for "Ride 2 Recovery"

Nearly 80 military veterans biked through Fort Hood Thursday morning as part of a six day "Ride 2 Recovery" event across Texas.

The United Healthcare Challenge through the Project Hero organization started Monday in San Antonio.

The final destination is in Houston.

The event is meant to help build support between veterans who are battling PTSD.

Many of the veterans say this bike ride keeps them in shape, and gives them something to keep their minds off of triggers that can cause a PTSD episode.

"This actually gives you something to look forward to in life,” Veteran Felix Alicea said. “Every morning we get up in the morning, we don't even care about breakfast. We care about getting on that bike and getting those miles in.”

Before stopping in Waco on Thursday, the bikers made another stop at Lakewood Elementary School in Belton for their annual Old Glory Day celebration.

The school started the event in 1987 to teach students an appreciation of America’s history.

When the school found out about the bike ride, they started scheduling Old Glory Day around the veterans’ arrival in Central Texas.

School administrators said the children enjoy meeting the veterans, and getting the opportunity to cheer them on.

"We get time to visit with them, even though it's a short time they're here and it's amazing to hear their stories and to know how much they've given us, to be the great country that we are today,” Lakewood Elementary Principal Judy Schiller said.