An Okotoks veteran biked from the beaches of Dieppe to Juno Beach to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Todd Martin rode this year's Battlefield Bike Ride: Operation Overlord, a fundraiser for Wounded Warriors in France, along with 130 other Canadians.

"You're riding alongside people that are dealing with PTSD in real time, so you're a physical support mechanism for those people, as you're traveling along the path in history that got us to where we are today," Martin said.

The group raised nearly $650,000 for Wounded Warriors programs to help veterans dealing with PTSD.

The ride wrapped up in Juno Beach on the anniversary of D-Day, June 6. The route mirrored a battlefield, the intention being to honour the memory of those who sacrificed their lives 75 years ago.

Nearly two weeks later, Martin says he's still processing the experience.

"I have a newfound respect for the variability of mental mind space, and sometimes the fragility of mental health," he said "I've learned a lot about people that are going through PTSD that I didn't know."

Wounded Warriors' motto is to honour the fallen, and help the living. As the ride progressed, the group stopped along various historical monuments commemorating World War II. 

Martin says the ride implemented a buddy check system to check in on one another over the course of the emotional trip. 

"If people are quiet, and they're not normally quiet, I've learned it's okay to ask questions like "how are you doing?,"" he said. 

The experience helped Martin understand the importance of mental health issues, and he says he's now humbled to realize how victims of mental health issues draw strength to cope with their illnesses. 

The cyclists developed a level of camaraderie that Martin says reminded him of the relationships he developed in the military. He hopes to maintain the relationships he made on this trip.

"When you're pedaling out 600 kilometers, you got a lot of time to think," Martin said. "But you do have a lot of conversation going on. You're hearing stories, and you're sharing ideas with like-minded individuals."

The ride was both rewarding and bittersweet, physically challenging and emotionally exhausting. It was just as easy for Martin to get lost in the moment as it was to shed a tear.

"It was a phenomenal experience, humbling, but also periods of euphoria," Martin said. "From sense of accomplishment for knocking out a bunch of kilometers to climbing some massive hills."

He laughed as he said "there's not a flat piece of country out there, I don't care what anybody says."

Now that he's back in Alberta, Martin is trying to maintain his momentum. 

"For all the work that was put in to get to this point, now it's a maintenance issue," he says. "As long as you don't let yourself go backwards, it should be easy to maintain."

Martin plans to sign up for next year's Wounded Warriors ride as soon as registration opens. The 2020 ride is expected to take place in Holland.

"Whatever I can do to keep the bike under me, I'll be there," he said. "If there's anyone that wants to go for a ride in town and wants to try cycling: look me up. I'll go for a rip anytime."

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email bburnett@goldenwestradio.com.