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Wounded Warrior Project take veterans on motorcycle ride across the Florida Keys

MARATHON, Fla. — A group of veterans took to the streets for a ride through the Florida Keys on Friday as part of a Wounded Warrior Project called Rolling Project Odyssey.

Rolling Project Odyssey is a unique motorcycle group riding experience that aims to support veterans during multi day mental health workshops, designed to aid in their recovery from the invisible wounds of war.

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The rides provide camaraderie, emotional support and mental rejuvenation for veterans across the country.

Participants rode across the Seven Mile Bridge and also had the chance to be part of the interactive dolphin experience at Dolphin Research Center, a nonprofit facility on Grassy Key.

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At Dolphin Research Center, veterans learned in-water commands and swam with a group of Atlantic bottlenose mammals.

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Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Bill Thomas said the Keys experience has been remarkable for the veterans and refers to these excursions as mental health workshops, explaining that he has struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder.

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“We’re all dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder,” Thomas said. “So, being here certainly brings down the anxiety level and it takes care of the depression.”

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