9/11 Survivor and Iraq War Veteran Takes Mission to St. Louis

Written by Sheila Condon St. Louis, MO (KSDK) - A bicycle team raising money for the families of fallen soldiers rode into St. Louis on Thursday.

Team Jesse is riding from California to New York in memory of Sgt. Jesse Williams.

Two major life changing events prompted Kevin Mincio, 40, to start Team Jesse.  Mincio was a vice-president at Goldman Sachs when the planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  What he saw that day inspired him to enlist in the Army at the age of 31.

Minicio served a tour in Iraq with a Stryker Brigade and lost a number of comrades, including one of his closest friends, Jesse Williams.  Mincio promised Williams he would look after wife and newborn daughter if Williams didn't come home.  That experience prompted him to start a charitable foundation, Team Jesse, which provides education support and other benefits for the children of fallen soldiers.

Team Jesse is hosting a fundraiser Thursday, July 21 at Helen Fitzgerald's at 3650 S. Lindbergh Blvd. It starts at 6:00 p.m. and runs until closing.

Matt Sauri is joining Mincio on the cross-country bike ride, which will last 95 days and cover 4,200 miles.