Coast Guard veteran reaches Triangle halfway through 2,000‑mile charity bike ride

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A retired, disabled veteran is pedaling her way through 15 states and more than 2,000 miles to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and Achilles International.

Jodie Knox, a former U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant commander, recently reached the Triangle, marking the halfway point of her journey from Key West, Florida, to Kittery, Maine.

"I'm not an athlete. I'm a 44-year-old woman just doing this crazy thing," Knox said. "If I can do this, I feel like people are capable of more than they give themselves credit for."

Knox said the ride has tested her physically and emotionally. At one point, she pushed through at just 4.5 miles per hour.

"I was crying some angry tears of frustration," she said. "But I made it through. It feels good to be over the halfway point."

Her mission is deeply personal. In 2022, while on active duty, Knox was hit by a car and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The crash changed her life and ultimately inspired her cross-country ride.

"I became inspired by nonmedical healing," she said. "Art, adaptive sports -- things that help your mind, not just your body. Finding new ways to move forward with whatever your new normal is."

Along the way, Knox said nature, community and the kindness of strangers have fueled her spirit.

"I love my country," she said. "I love walking into a post where I've never met anyone, and they welcome me like we've known each other forever. They want to hear my story, and I want to hear theirs. It's incredible."

Her next stop: Clarksville, Virginia.