SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 24, 2010) – More than 200 cyclists, including about 100 from California, will set off on Oct. 3 on the Ride 2 Recovery Golden State Challenge sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, a seven-day, 450-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles along the California coast.

The Ride 2 Recovery Golden State Challenge raises funds for cycling programs that aid the rehabilitation and recovery efforts of injured veterans, including R2R indoor Spinning® Recovery Labs and outdoor cycling programs at military and Veterans Affairs locations nationwide. More than 2,000 veterans have benefited from these rehabilitation programs.

Golden State Challenge cyclists, including veterans using hand cycles, recumbents and traditional road bikes, will start their journey from the Holiday Inn at the San Francisco International Airport and ride along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway with overnight stops in Santa Cruz, Carmel, San Simeon, Pismo Beach, Solvang and Ventura. The wounded warriors and others riding in support will arrive at the Santa Monica Pier on Oct. 9 for a concert hosted by the United Service Organizations (USO).

"The Ride 2 Recovery Golden State Challenge helps support important health programs for men and women who served our country, so we are honored to be able to serve them through this sponsorship," said Steve Nelson, West Region CEO, UnitedHealthcare. "Exercise and rehabilitation services are critically important to help injured veterans enjoy a return to the health and well-being they richly deserve."

Notable participants will include Ride 2 Recovery spokesman and Purple Heart recipient Sgt. (Ret.) Nathan Hunt; Airman 1st Class Delvin McMillian; Army Chinook gunner crewman Juan Carlos Hernandez; Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Nathan DeWalt, who will be riding with his father; actor Mike Vogel ("Miami Medical," "Cloverfield"); 12 teams from Veterans Affairs facilities throughout California; and other wounded veterans who served in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The USO will support the daily rest stops with a mobile canteen. The American Legion Riders will provide a motorcycle escort, and the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary will sponsor dinners and community events for the riders. On Oct. 7, the city of Solvang and the Elks will host a fund-raiser featuring comedian Dennis Miller and Five for Fighting at the Flag is Up Farms in Solvang. The public is welcome to join the evening's festivities with a donation of $50. Advance tickets can be purchased online. Attendance is limited to 1,200 people.

Other highlights along the route include school visits, welcome parades and community events sponsored by the USO and the American Legion Family. Schools, community groups and the public are encouraged to gather along the daily routes to recognize the sacrifices of all the veterans and to support those who are riding. The event ride guide has a full schedule of events.

About R2R
Ride 2 Recovery improves the health and wellness of injured veterans through cycling. Cycling is an important part of the recovery process because it is an activity that almost all patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate, and it helps to speed up the rehabilitation process.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of more than 25 million individual consumers, contracting directly with more than 600,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.