Sunday 23 November 2014

Giffords finishes 11-mile bike ride





  • Cheers and applause greet Giffords as she crosses the finish line

  • Bike ride marks another milestone in her recovery from 2011 shooting injuries

  • Giffords' husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, joins her in El Tour de Tucson ride

  • "She wants to do everything she used to do before," Kelly says




(CNN) -- Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords completed an 11-mile cycling event Saturday, marking another milestone in her recovery from a 2011 mass shooting.


She was greeted with cheers and applause at the finish line.


Alongside her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, Giffords crossed the finish line of El Tour de Tucson riding a recumbent bike, which has three wheels and puts the rider in a reclining position.


Organizers say some 9,000 people participate in the annual ride, which they call America's largest perimeter cycling event for cyclists of all ages and abilities









Gabrielle Giffords, the former congresswoman from Arizona who was shot and wounded in a 2011 mass shooting, has embarked on gun control efforts with her husband, Mark Kelly. Look back at her life and career before and after she was shot. Gabrielle Giffords, the former congresswoman from Arizona who was shot and wounded in a 2011 mass shooting, has embarked on gun control efforts with her husband, Mark Kelly. Look back at her life and career before and after she was shot.



Newly elected representatives, including Giffords at second from top right, prepare for the freshman class picture for the 110th Congress on the House steps on November 14, 2006. She represented Arizona's 8th District from 2007 until her resignation in 2012.Newly elected representatives, including Giffords at second from top right, prepare for the freshman class picture for the 110th Congress on the House steps on November 14, 2006. She represented Arizona's 8th District from 2007 until her resignation in 2012.



Giffords gives a tour of Statuary Hall in the Capitol to Shuttle Discovery STS-124 astronauts Akihiko Hoshide of Japan, left, and her husband, Cmdr. Mark Kelly, on July 17, 2008.Giffords gives a tour of Statuary Hall in the Capitol to Shuttle Discovery STS-124 astronauts Akihiko Hoshide of Japan, left, and her husband, Cmdr. Mark Kelly, on July 17, 2008.



Giffords addresses supporters at the Democratic Election Headquarters in Tuscon, Arizona, on November 2, 2010. She won a close race against Republican Jesse Kelly.Giffords addresses supporters at the Democratic Election Headquarters in Tuscon, Arizona, on November 2, 2010. She won a close race against Republican Jesse Kelly.



A framed photograph of Giffords stands at the center of a memorial during a candlelight vigil at the University Medical Center on January 8, 2011. The congresswoman was shot in the head during an event that day in front of a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed. The gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2012.A framed photograph of Giffords stands at the center of a memorial during a candlelight vigil at the University Medical Center on January 8, 2011. The congresswoman was shot in the head during an event that day in front of a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed. The gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2012.



Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, holds his wife's hand in her hospital room at the University Medical Center in Tuscon on January 9, 2011.Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, holds his wife's hand in her hospital room at the University Medical Center in Tuscon on January 9, 2011.



Giffords is pictured the day before she underwent skull surgery at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston on May 17, 2011. It was one of the first photographs of her released after the shooting.Giffords is pictured the day before she underwent skull surgery at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston on May 17, 2011. It was one of the first photographs of her released after the shooting.



Kelly hugs his wife after receiving the Legion of Merit from Vice President Joe Biden during a retirement ceremony in Washington on October 6, 2011.Kelly hugs his wife after receiving the Legion of Merit from Vice President Joe Biden during a retirement ceremony in Washington on October 6, 2011.



Giffords, at left, leads the Pledge of Allegiance during a vigil held at the University of Arizona Mall on the anniversary of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2012.Giffords, at left, leads the Pledge of Allegiance during a vigil held at the University of Arizona Mall on the anniversary of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2012.



President Barack Obama embraces Giffords as members of Congress applaud before his State of the Union address in Washington on January 24, 2012.President Barack Obama embraces Giffords as members of Congress applaud before his State of the Union address in Washington on January 24, 2012.



After resigning from Congress, Giffords is escorted down the hall by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida on January 25, 2012. Giffords left office to focus on her recovery.After resigning from Congress, Giffords is escorted down the hall by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida on January 25, 2012. Giffords left office to focus on her recovery.



President Obama signs the Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act as Vice President Joe Biden, Giffords and her husband look on in the Oval Office of the White House on February 10, 2012. The bill was the last piece of legislation Giffords voted on before she resigned.President Obama signs the Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act as Vice President Joe Biden, Giffords and her husband look on in the Oval Office of the White House on February 10, 2012. The bill was the last piece of legislation Giffords voted on before she resigned.



Giffords and Kelly speak at the Simon Wiesenthal Center's annual tribute dinner, where they received Medals of Valor on May 23, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California.Giffords and Kelly speak at the Simon Wiesenthal Center's annual tribute dinner, where they received Medals of Valor on May 23, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California.



Wasserman Schultz, head of the Democratic National Committee, and Giffords wave to the audience after Giffords delivered the Pledge of Allegiance on September 6, 2012, the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.Wasserman Schultz, head of the Democratic National Committee, and Giffords wave to the audience after Giffords delivered the Pledge of Allegiance on September 6, 2012, the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.



Wasserman Schultz and Giffords greet each other on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte on September 6, 2012.Wasserman Schultz and Giffords greet each other on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte on September 6, 2012.



Giffords and Kelly arrive for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about gun control on Capitol Hill in Washington on January 30, 2013. The former congresswoman delivered an opening statement to the committee, which met for the first time since the mass shooting at a Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.Giffords and Kelly arrive for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about gun control on Capitol Hill in Washington on January 30, 2013. The former congresswoman delivered an opening statement to the committee, which met for the first time since the mass shooting at a Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.



Giffords and Kelly attend a news conference on March 6, 2013 outside the Safeway grocery store in Tuscon. At the event they urged Congress to provide stricter gun control in the United States. At left, Roxanna Green holds a photo of her daughter, Christina Taylor Green, who was killed in the 2011 shooting.Giffords and Kelly attend a news conference on March 6, 2013 outside the Safeway grocery store in Tuscon. At the event they urged Congress to provide stricter gun control in the United States. At left, Roxanna Green holds a photo of her daughter, Christina Taylor Green, who was killed in the 2011 shooting.



Giffords joins, from left, Ben Zimmerman, Ross Zimmerman, Emily Nottingham, Rep. Ron Barber and Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz during a dedication ceremony on April 16, 2013 for Gabriel Zimmerman, a member of Gifford's staff who was murdered during the January 8 shooting spree. Giffords joins, from left, Ben Zimmerman, Ross Zimmerman, Emily Nottingham, Rep. Ron Barber and Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz during a dedication ceremony on April 16, 2013 for Gabriel Zimmerman, a member of Gifford's staff who was murdered during the January 8 shooting spree.



Giffords completed an 11-mile cycling event on November 22, marking another milestone in her recovery from a 2011 mass shooting, tweeting "Kicking off 11 miles in El Tour de Tucson. Beautiful day for a bike ride!"Giffords completed an 11-mile cycling event on November 22, marking another milestone in her recovery from a 2011 mass shooting, tweeting "Kicking off 11 miles in El Tour de Tucson. Beautiful day for a bike ride!"




Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor

Gabrielle Giffords, Arizona shooting survivor






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Survivor Gabrielle GiffordsSurvivor Gabrielle Giffords



Giffords was an avid cyclist and athlete until she was critically injured by a gunshot wound to her head. In January 2011, Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at a Giffords meet-and-greet outside a Tucson supermarket, killing six people and injuring 17 others. Loughner pleaded guilty in 2012 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.







Giffords' injuries forced her to resign from Congress.


Earlier this year, she threw out the first pitch at the congressional women's softball game in Washington -- a game she used to play in.


Kelly said his wife has been practicing for the Tucson ride and also uses a treadmill and rowing machine.


"It's important to stay active, and she wants to do everything she used to do before," Kelly told CNN affiliate KGUN.


Giffords gets most of her pedaling power from her left leg, Kelly said, which "makes it a little more difficult, but she's been working really hard at it."


Giffords and Kelly rode the 11-mile Fun Run around downtown Tucson on Saturday. As for next year, Kelly says, "it's one step at a time. I think she said next year -- and I'm not holding her to this -- but next year she wanted to do the 40-mile."


A life forever changed: Giffords' comeback



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