One Million Voices unveils Veterans team for 213-mile Tour de Valor in New York

The Dwyer Coalition for Military Veterans & Families has named the riders and support drivers for Tour de Valor, an overnight 213-mile journey from Albany to Rocky Point on Oct. 23-24. The event is built to spotlight veteran mental health, peer support and community connection across New York.

Why it matters: - Tour de Valor is designed to spotlight veteran mental health, suicide prevention, peer support and reducing isolation. - The overnight format is meant to reflect the reality that support is sometimes needed in the middle of the night, not just during normal business hours. - The journey brings together veterans, military families, caregivers, first responders and community members across New York around a single message: no one should have to face a hard stretch alone.

What happened: - The Dwyer Coalition for Military Veterans & Families announced the team for the 2026 Tour de Valor: One Million Voices. - The journey is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24. - The route covers about 213 miles from the Albany County Veterans Service Bureau in Albany to the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Memorial in Rocky Point, Long Island. - Two veterans will complete the full route: Todd Dorris, a U.S. Army and U.S. Navy veteran and program coordinator for Dwyer Vet2Vet of Putnam, and Gavin T. Walters Sr., MSW, a U.S. Air Force veteran and founding executive director of the Dwyer Coalition for Military Veterans & Families. - Two other veterans will serve as support drivers: Justin Riccobono, a U.S. Army veteran, and Lionel Durant, a U.S. Marine Corps Persian Gulf veteran.

The details: - The ride begins with a meet and greet at 10:30 a.m. Friday at 420 Western Avenue in Albany, followed by a noon departure. - Riders will move through the Hudson Valley, cross the Bear Mountain Bridge, continue through New York City and head across Long Island before arriving in Rocky Point around 10 a.m. Saturday. - The journey is expected to take about 22 hours, including overnight travel. - Scheduled Friday stops include West Athens-Lime Street Fire Company in Athens, Ulster Hose Company #5 in Lake Katrine, Middle Hope Fire Department in Newburgh, a Fort Montgomery community stop, an alternate stop at the American Legion in Highland Falls, and Buchanan Fire Department. - Scheduled Saturday stops include FDNY Engine 95 / Ladder 36 / Foam 95 in Manhattan, Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department Company 4 in Great Neck, and Cold Spring Harbor Fire Department. - The Fort Montgomery host location has not been finalized yet. - The American Legion at 136 Old NY-218 in Highland Falls is listed as the alternate location. - Arrival times are estimates and may change because of pace, traffic, weather, road conditions and stop duration. - The official route map is available here. - Live tracking is available here.

Between the lines: - Tour de Valor is not a race and not a traditional fundraising event. - The coalition is framing the ride as a statewide awareness effort built around connection, belonging and community support. - The participation of support drivers underscores the event’s central message that difficult journeys often require more than individual effort. - The route’s fire departments, first responders and community stops turn the ride into a visible call for local engagement, not just a symbolic endurance effort.

What's next: - Participants will begin arriving at the Albany starting point Friday morning before the noon departure. - Communities along the route are being encouraged to greet the riders and support team at scheduled stops. - The journey is expected to finish at the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Memorial in Rocky Point around 10 a.m. Saturday. - Final details for the Fort Montgomery stop will be updated as coordination is completed.

The bottom line: - Tour de Valor uses a 213-mile overnight ride to turn veteran mental health awareness into a shared, public event across New York.