Staff Writer

Though many of them may not own a road bike or even know how to ride one, Oceano Elementary School students played a special part Thursday in a cycling challenge organized to raise money for wounded veterans.

The students cheered on 56 cyclists riding by the school during one of the last legs in the seven-day, 420-mile Road 2 Recovery California Challenge.

Oceano also raised approximately $1,700 to treat the riders - at least 31 of whom organizers say are active soldiers - to dinner at Marie Callender's in Pismo Beach Wednesday night.

“I just thought it would be a really good opportunity for my students to give back ... and show their support,” sixth-grade teacher Jim DeCecco said of the event. “It was a teaching tool.”

DeCecco, an avid cyclist who rides his bike to work most days, became inspired when he saw an advertisement in a cyclist magazine regarding the race.

His initial plans involved just having his class cheer the riders on, but after talking with race organizers, DeCecco decided to kick things up a notch.

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“I thought, ‘Well, if my class comes down here, then why don't we have the whole school come down here?'” he said.

Eventually, the plans expanded to include the Marie Callender's dinner and an assembly featuring two soldiers and actor Mike Vogel.

Shell Beach Elementary lent a hand, raising $400 for the dinner and cheering cyclists on Wednesday during the Five Cities leg of the Challenge.

The cyclists, several of whom hail from as far away as Alaska and North Carolina, left San Francisco Sunday and are scheduled to end their ride Saturday in Los Angeles.

On Thursday, they cruised through Lompoc and stopped in Solvang for the night.

Army Lt. Col. Patty Collins - an Iraq veteran who, ironically enough, lost her leg when she was hit by a car shortly after returning home - spoke to students at the assembly about her recovery and how cycling played a huge part in it.

“It's a way to see your body come back and give you ability again,” Collins said.

Vogel echoed Collins' sentiments.

Cycling can provide wounded veterans “an environment where they feel whole again. Not only physically, but mentally as well,” he said.

Vogel lost his cousin in Iraq a year ago and comes from a long line of military veterans.

The Los Angeles resident said he had been looking for a way to honor his family members and other veterans when his neighbor, who just happens to be Challenge organizer John Wordin, convinced him to join the ride.

Now, “whether I want to cycle or not, I don't have a choice. (Wordin) is out at my gate every morning, saying, ‘Let's go,'” Vogel joked.

On Thursday, Oceano students crowded along Highway 1, their collective voices reaching a crescendo along with their mounting anticipation as the riders drew near.

Several students held multicolored signs that read things such as, “Thank you for fighting for us” and “FREEDOM.”

Finally, the cyclists poured into the area in droves, several slapping hands with students as they rode past.

“They're brave because they fought for us,” said fifth-grader Sarah Hernandez, 10, of wounded veterans.

For Sarah's classmate, Mario Martinez, 11, the meaning behind the day was a simple one.

“We care about the veterans so we celebrated,” he said.

Natalie Ragus can be reached at 347-4580 or nragus@santamariatimes.com.

October 3, 2008