Team ONE MILE cycling event to raise money for veteran-focused nonprofits
What does it mean to be a force multiplier? For the One Mile Leadership Project, this means combining social media and cycling to inspire action and drive positive change.
Launched seven years ago by founder and president Mike Campbell, the nonprofit organization mobilizes leaders nationwide to raise money for veteran-focused causes through cycling missions. Its 2026 Operation: Healing Hearts Mission, scheduled for Sept. 21-26, will bring together a hand-selected team of approximately 30 cyclists, known as Team ONE MILE, for a 700-mile ride across Wisconsin.
The group will cycle from Kohler to Milwaukee on Sept. 24, stopping at the War Memorial and finishing the day at Rockwell Automation’s headquarters for a celebratory event.
“As a civilian, my greatest honor is making a difference in a community of people willing to sacrifice everything for our freedom and safety. This is my way of paying it forward—and turning my passion into action,” said Campbell.
Team ONE MILE is composed of veterans, athletes, sports instructors, actors and others, all diverse in background but united by their eagerness to take on a challenge that will honor those who’ve sacrificed their lives for our country.
“Creating a challenge attracts a certain kind of person,” said Campbell.
One team member is Wayne Dowd, a 22-year U.S. Navy Veteran who served with SEAL Team 2. His service took him around the globe, planning and conducting special operations missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia, Albania and Kuwait. Dowd has volunteered his time to the One Mile Leadership Project for several years.
Funds raised by Team ONE MILE will support My TEAM TRIUMPH-Operation Guardian Angel and Camp Hometown Heroes. The former invites disabled active and former service members to participate in endurance race events, building community and boosting participants’ mental health. The latter is a Grafton-based summer camp that uses trauma-informed care to assist the children of fallen U.S. military service members through the healing process.
“I cannot say enough good things about the hearts (and muscles) behind the Team ONE MILE efforts for Camp Hometown Heroes,” said Camp Hometown Heroes Executive Director Deb Paschke. “This ride is no walk in the park, quite the opposite. It is a huge undertaking. But they all make that commitment for our campers. They don’t know them, have never met them, but love them.”
When Team ONE MILE reaches Rockwell Automation, the global company is prepared to welcome riders with an event featuring speakers, food, company swag and more.
“Supporting Team ONE MILE reflects Rockwell Automation’s values by fostering inclusion, strengthening our commitment to veterans and service members, building meaningful connections within our communities and demonstrating the power of teamwork, integrity and caring for others beyond the workplace,” said Mike Selke, Rockwell’s senior manager of business operations. “We hope this event inspires people to support one another, honor those who have served and recognize the power of teamwork and community to create lasting impact.”
This will be Team ONE MILE’s third year riding in Wisconsin. The team raised an impressive $100,000 in both 2025 and 2024 for its beneficiary organizations and hopes to exceed that amount in 2026, with a fundraising goal of $150,000.
To learn more about Team ONE MILE’s upcoming ride to Milwaukee, visit: https://www.teamonemile.com/
