Campaign Details: https://www.projectechelon.org/the-long-ride-home.html

My name is Brandon van Baggen. After more than 21 years of service in the US Navy, with assignments spanning the Pacific and ultimately rooted in Coronado, California, I am preparing for the transition into the next chapter of life. Before that transition, I am taking on a journey called The Long Ride Home.

This July, I will ride 2,200 kilometers down the Pacific Coast from my hometown of Portland, Oregon to Coronado, California, a route that reflects both where I started and where my military career comes to a close.

Throughout my career, I operated in high-tempo environments supporting critical missions, including time alongside Naval Special Warfare and Special Operations units. Those experiences came with responsibility, pressure, and risk often in places and moments that most people will never see.

Over the years, I’ve lost teammates and friends. Moments that remind you how fragile life can be, and those experiences stay with you long after the mission ends. Like many veterans, some of the hardest battles aren’t fought overseas, but in the quiet moments that follow.

This ride is about connection.

The number 22 carries weight in the veteran community. It represents the lives we continue to lose each day to suicide men and women who once stood beside us. While statistics may vary, the meaning remains the same: too many veterans are still fighting battles alone.

This ride is about changing that. It’s about connection, awareness, and reminding every veteran that they are not alone.

Along the way, I will stop at 22 Checkpoints of Connection, meeting veterans, fellow cyclists, and communities who believe that no one should fight alone. These checkpoints represent the conversations, support systems, and relationships that help carry us forward.

The Long Ride Home supports the mission of Project Echelon, an organization dedicated to breaking down barriers for veterans through community, purpose, and endurance. This mission aligns with my personal beliefs and values, and I could not think of a better organization to ride for.

When Project Echelon was founded, an average of 22 veterans a day committed suicide. Thanks to their work and organizations like them, that number has declined to 17. However, we still have work to do!

Donations from this ride will go directly toward supporting the mission of Project Echelon helping fund programs that provide veterans with community, purpose, and opportunities through endurance, as well as expanding awareness around veteran mental health.

This journey is not about proving toughness. It’s about proving that connection saves lives.

From Portland to Coronado, every mile has a purpose.

I’ll be sharing the journey along the way for those who want to follow, support, or be part of it.

Veterans don’t fight alone.
We ride together.

The Long Ride Home

2,200 Kilometers • 22 Checkpoints • One Mission

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