Benefiting Jacksonville Area Legal Aid in partnership with K9s for Warriors
About VELO for Vets
More Than a Bike Ride
VELO for Vets is a 35-mile charity ride bringing together cyclists, veterans, law enforcement, first responders, attorneys, and community supporters to help ensure that elderly veterans can remain safely housed.
Beginning at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center in St. Augustine, riders travel north under police escort before finishing at the celebration at the K9s For Warriors Armed Forces Tri-Bridge Challenge in Jacksonville. The ride finishes alongside hundreds of athletes and supporters celebrating service, sacrifice, and community. The former Freed to Run bike ride began at the same St. Augustine courthouse and rode to the Duval County Courthouse; VELO for Vets builds on that tradition with a new finish that connects riders to another veteran-focused community event.
Ride Details
Event Information
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Ride Start: Richard O. Watson Judicial Center, St. Augustine, Florida
Ride Begins: 7:30 a.m.
Please arrive by 6:45 a.m. for check-in, bicycle safety inspection, announcements, and rider briefing.
Ride Distance: 35 Miles
Estimated Finish: 10:30 a.m.
Finish: K9s For Warriors Armed Forces Tri-Bridge Challenge Finish Line
Location: Near the USS Orleck Naval Museum, Downtown Jacksonville
Average Pace: Approximately 12 mph
Rest Stop: One supported rest stop approximately halfway through the ride.
Support: Police escort, water and refreshments
Shelter for Elders Endowment
Protecting Those Who Protected Us
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid created the Shelter for Elders Endowment to provide permanent funding for legal services that help seniors remain safely housed. Funds raised through VELO for Vets are dedicated to expanding those services specifically for elderly veterans throughout Northeast Florida.
The goal is simple: No veteran should lose their home because they cannot afford an attorney.
The Shelter for Elders initiative was established after Freed to Run successfully endowed JALA’s Medical Legal Partnership and now focuses on housing-related legal assistance for seniors.
Why We Ride
Every Mile Protects a Veteran’s Home
Many elderly veterans face legal challenges that threaten their independence.
Some struggle with:
- Wrongful evictions
- Mortgage foreclosure
- Housing scams
- Unsafe living conditions
- Home repair fraud
- Predatory lending
- Landlord disputes
- Public benefits affecting housing
Without legal assistance, these problems often result in homelessness or the loss of the home they fought to protect.
Your participation helps Jacksonville Area Legal Aid provide free civil legal services so elderly veterans can continue living safely and independently.
Every Mile Helps a Senior Stay Housed
Supporting Housing Stability for Northeast Florida Seniors
Sponsored by:
JALA Veterans: Stories & News
