2014 CanAm Veterans’ Challenge Documentary Captures Fellowship of Ride

BOSTON - Nov. 19, 2014 - PRLog -- The incredible experience and fellowship between 15 injured military veterans riding bicycles, hand cycles and recumbent bicycles nearly 800 miles in World T.E.A.M. Sports’ inaugural CanAm Veterans’ Challenge is captured in a new video by filmmakers Austin Galusza and Rachel Saunders.

The short documentary, released this month through Boston’s 50 Eggs Films, includes digital footage and personal interviews taken by the filmmakers during the cross-nation journey from Ottawa, Ontario to Washington, D.C. in June 2014.

“When you are documenting an event like CanAm, there will always be challenges due to the constant change in weather and not having a great deal of control over the elements that we were able to film,” said Saunders. “I think a difficult challenge for me was attaining enough footage of the ride. It was difficult to try to keep a balance between constantly filming riders and trying to be a part of the experience as well.”

Using a Canon 7D camera to film the riders, and to take digital stills, Saunders and Galusza also used GoPro cameras mounted on the bicycles and attached to the riders to capture point-of-view footage of the 16-day ride. “I always wanted to capture the friendships that were forming and the respect that these men and women had for each other, but how do you capture that on film? This was a question I was constantly challenged with throughout the ride,” said Saunders.

Working as interns with Boston’s 50 Eggs Films, Saunders and Galusza were invited by 50 Eggs founder Mary Mazzio, a World T.E.A.M. Sports board member, to accompany the ride and document the journey.

“It was an incredibly formative experience for me and I am very grateful to have been a part of such an incredible company,” said Saunders. “I worked as a production assistant and was given the opportunity to produce with the CanAm Veterans’ Challenge. Both experiences gave me greater insight into the life of a documentary film maker.”

With Galusza serving as the director, editor and narrator for the documentary, Saunders used her producer skills to work with the riders and staff members to frame the story of the ride.

“I had never before had too much interaction with veterans or the military in general,” she recalled. “As a civilian, it was incredibly inspirational to see the men and women who sacrificed so much for their countries ride together in honor of wounded veterans. The ride was for their friends, families, and for themselves, and every day I was truly honored to be a part of it. I will always have the utmost respect for veterans and will always know, from my own experience, that they are tough as nails.”

Setting aside her producing duties for a day, Saunders climbed on a bicycle and rode alongside the veterans. “It was one of my longest days, and their easiest. I am not much of an athlete, but the support the riders gave me that day was astounding. I should have been cheering them on, as they were in the middle of their difficult ride south, and the days were only getting hotter. But every person I encountered asked me how I was doing and gave me tips on changing gears and tricks on making things a bit easier for me. It was a humbling experience as I think I finished last, but it was great to feel like I was a part of the experience.”

Following her graduation from Boston College, Saunders is currently living near Guayaquil, Ecuador, assisting an organization providing community development for the region. “I work at a school teaching computers and also work as a community organizer as I attempt to learn and speak Spanish fluently; as well as better understand systems of poverty and aid.”

Corporate sponsors for the CanAm Veterans’ Challenge included Realty Capital Securities LLC, American Portfolios Financial Services, Benson Botsford LLC, Exit 10, Gerstein Fisher, Penske Truck Rental, Pershing and Freshbikes. Partners included Wounded Warriors Canada and Soldier On from the Canadian Armed Forces.

The CanAm Veterans’ Challenge is scheduled to return in June, 2016. Participating injured military veterans will ride north in this second Challenge, from Washington, D.C. to Ottawa, Ontario.

About World T.E.A.M. Sports

World T.E.A.M. Sports is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization chartered in North Carolina and headquartered in Holbrook, New York. Since 1993, World T.E.A.M. Sports has organized athletic events for disabled and able bodied citizens – mountain climbing, white water rafting, biking, and more. Four things always happen at our events: (1) Disabled participants build self-confidence and physical fitness; (2) The disabled provide a role model for other disabled citizens, encouraging them to take up physical activities; (3) The disabled become a moving inspiration to other participants and to spectators when they see that disabled individuals can meet challenges beyond anyone’s imagination; and (4) The disabled and able-bodied participants learn to work as a team to overcome those challenges. World T.E.A.M. Sports changes lives through sports.