Released on 12/8/2009

Ocala, Fla.—A large group of disabled veterans will bike into Ocala Monday, December 14 as part of the Ride 2 Recovery Florida Challenge.

In this event, more than 180 disabled veterans will cycle 350 miles from Tampa to Jacksonville in a challenge raising funds to support indoor Spinning® Recovery Labs and outdoor cycling programs at military and VA locations across America. The ride begins Saturday, December 12 at MacDill Air Force Base and ends Thursday, December 17 at the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. the Indianapolis Colts game at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. In between, the riders will enjoy a variety of stops and overnight stays, including overnight accommodations at the Ocala Courtyard by Marriot that Monday.

For the Ocala community, the event represents not only a unique opportunity to be involved with a worthy cause, but also a group marketing success.

"The Ocala Courtyard by Marriott is honored to have been chosen as the host hotel for the Ride 2 Recovery overnight stop in Ocala," said Dava Crump, Senior Sales Manager of Ocala Marriott Hotel Group. "We are very excited to be a part of this special event and to have the opportunity to welcome our veterans as they ride through Marion County. The 100 plus rooms that this event is generating is a great revenue boost during December which is historically a quiet month throughout the hospitality industry in Ocala."

The Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau helped provide planning support for the Ocala portion of Ride 2 Recovery."This event is big," said John Wordin, Executive Director of Ride 2 Recovery, "and we are thankful for the support and planning assistance we have received from the Ocala Courtyard by Marriott and the Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau."

A full calendar of other Marion County events is available at OcalaMarion.com.

Ride 2 Recovery is presented by UnitedHealthcare.