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On Sunday, Rodweller, a Vietnam veteran, will depart from San Francisco to begin a 4,000-mile bicycle ride across the country. Fifty-two days later, on July 25, he expects to end his ride at Portsmouth, N.H.

‘‘Riding my bicycle across the United States has been a dream of mine since I left the military,” he said. ‘‘I wanted to be able to meet the people who have made our country what it is today and to be able to take a close-up view of the beauty of our country.”

He said he also considers it ‘‘a true gift” that he is in a place in his life where he is able to take the time and is physically able to take on the challenge.

Rodweller, 59, has enjoyed sports all his life. After returning home from Vietnam, biking, running and swimming helped him to adjust both mentally and physically to civilian life again.

Rodweller, a resident of the Sandy Spring area, is dedicating his ride to the men, women and families of the armed services of the United States by raising funds for the Fisher House Foundation.

He learned about the Fisher House while talking with a man he met on a ski lift.

The man, who he knew only as ‘‘Joe,” was a Montgomery County schoolteacher who spent time with amputees teaching them to kayak and canoe.

The man explained that the young men and women he helped had benefited from the Fisher House Foundation, a private-public partnership that builds and provides homes on the grounds of major military hospitals to be used by wounded veterans and their families.

‘‘These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one during the stressful time of hospitalization for an injury, illness or disease,” Rodweller said. ‘‘They also offer assistance with transportation and provide an education scholarship program for the children of these veterans.”

With the support of his wife Cathy Case, and their 17-year-old daughter Casey, Rodweller said the ride became a real family effort.

They mailed letters to family, friends and co-workers, asking for their support.

Rodweller trained during the winter at Fitness First in Layhill, and his spin class instructors held a spinathon and silent auction to support his efforts.

To date, he has raised more than $13,000 for the Fisher House Foundation, and hopes to achieve his goal of $15,000.

‘‘It’s all about giving back,” he said.

To help

To make a donation or to track Bob Rodweller’s progress during his ride, visit www.rideforfisherhouse.com.

For more information on Fisher House, visitwww.fisherhouse.org.