Advertisement Bicyclists ride from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. to support local veterans Riders for Veterans Leadership Program have raised more than $23,000 to support local veterans Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Nearly two dozen veterans and supporters are biking from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. to honor and support local veterans.The group left Thursday from the Veterans Leadership Program office building on the South Side and will arrive in the nation's capital on Monday, July 4.Video: Watch Katelyn Sykes' reportFor Army veteran Jack Kudrav, it all started two years ago with an idea to bike from Pittsburgh to Washington while raising awareness and money."I'm humbled that we're here today to celebrate, but also to raise awareness of what our veterans are facing," Kudrav said.Last year, he made the 335-mile journey by himself. This time, he's joined by about 20 other veterans and supporters."This is my life," Kudrav said. "This is what I've dedicated my life to, and that is the cause of the veterans, of helping veterans get back to independent living and resuming their lives in the community."You can follow the group's progress on their Facebook page: facebook.com/VeteransLeadershipProgramTo make a donation, log on to their website: NeverForgetVets.orgThe effort is happening through the Veterans Leadership Program, which supports local veterans in their critical times of need. Riders have raised more than $23,000 that will support a quarter-million veterans in western Pennsylvania -- the fourth-largest veterans population in the country.The group will ride about 75 miles a day along the great Allegheny Passage Trail, meeting veterans along the way.It's a journey that organizers said brings hope and support to men and women who have supported our country."It's significant. It's impactful," said Veterans Leadership Program interim executive director Benjamin Stahl. "Being part of something that's greater than yourself, that's going to affect the lives of so many people. Putting your head down like the people behind me and getting the work done. It's a feeling of accomplishment. It's a feeling of pride, and it's a commitment we still share with the brothers and sisters we served with."Get the WTAE Pittsburgh's Action News 4 App