​By Gabriele Zimmerman (source)

Three years ago, David Frey – or, “Indian Dave,” as he is affectionately known in the riding community – did a solo ride to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. By coincidence, the former paratrooper stumbled upon a person who had served in his same unit and, as you might expect, talk soon turned to current affairs – in particular, the veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. David traces the idea for the Veterans Charity Ride back to that moment.

By Eric Nuechterlein

The 2017 Veteran’s Charity Ride put their kickstands down after a nine-day journey through winding highways and beautiful back roads to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Bates Footwear was the proud sponsor of this year’s ride, supplying the American-made Freedom and Bomber motorcycle boots for the veterans and crew. The 2017 ride had a few new components and a couple of big surprises in store. Veteran’s Charity Ride Founder Dave Frey sat down with us to talk about the overall experience with Bates and the ride itself.

Photos Courtesy of Sara Liberte Photography

By Jon Wilson

Each year, the Veterans Charity Ride group travels from California to Sturgis for the rally.

​By Jake Hughes

Sturgis, South Dakota is a veritable holy land for motorcycle enthusiasts. Every year for the past 77, the tiny town of Sturgis swells in population for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

​From: http://www.batesfootwear.com/US/en/blog?url=%2F/batesfootwear_us/veterans-charity-ride-hits-the-road/

The Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis has officially hit the road! Here are a few highlights from their journey so far.

​By Katrina Lim
Bikers from the Veterans Charity Ride reached their final destination in Sturgis on Saturday.

​STURGIS, S.D. – It’s called motorcycle therapy.

Veterans from all over the country rode into Sturgis Saturday to wrap up their multi-state motorcycle ride.

The annual Veteran’s Charity Ride honors our nations wounded warriors during a nine day and more than 1,000 mile journey.

The bikers in the crowd may have looked like an ordinary group of bikers at the rally, but some of the vets were on modified bikes.

Organizers wanted to be sure to leave no veteran out, even those injured in combat.

Veteran, Josh Stein is one biker that participated in the charity ride.

He told KOTA-TV, “Life after the military still continues, you have to find that passion. For us it was motorcycles. It gets us out of the house; we get to explore the country on the back of a motor cycle.”

The ride started in Los Angeles and ended at the Sturgis rally. Stein said it’s great to see what he has fought and bled for.

Source: http://kbhbradio.com/index.php?page=news-article&id=2216

image by: Sara Liberte

Cpl. Joshua Stein, left, U.S. Army (ret.) and Cpl. Neil Frustaglio, U.S. Marines (ret.) will be piloting an Indian Scout Avenger Sidecar to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. (8/2/17) — When members of the Veterans Charity Ride roll into Hot Springs on Friday, they will be greeted by some familiar faces. For the second year, Southern Hills Economic Development, the Rushmore Region Economic Development Alliance and the city of Hot Springs will welcome the riders on their first night in the Black Hills.

The Veterans Charity Ride began Friday in Los Angeles. Twenty wounded and amputee veterans, along with volunteers and a support team, are traveling by motorcycle, trike and sidecar to the Sturgis Rally. Among the riders will be Hero’s Ride of a Lifetime honorees Neil Frustaglio and Josh Stein. The men each lost both legs while serving in Iraq.

The ride is a form of motorcycle therapy, and it brings attention to America’s wounded warriors. Supporters include actor Mark Wahlberg, comedian Jay Leno and Indian Motorcycles. Rushmore Region Economic Development is also a sponsor of the charity ride, and Hot Springs is a natural destination for the veterans.

“With the Veterans Affairs facility and the South Dakota State Veterans Home both in Hot Springs, we well know the sacrifices that our soldiers have made,” said Andrea Powers, executive director of the Southern Hills Economic Development Partnership. “It will be an honor to host these soldiers.”

The group is expected to arrive in Hot Springs from Denver late Friday afternoon, and they will attend a dinner in their honor at the Hot Springs American Legion Hall that evening.

“We are thrilled to be working with Rushmore Region, Southern Hills Economic Development again this year. Rolling into Hot Springs, aka ‘Veterans Town’ as our last stop before the iconic Sturgis Bike Rally is just icing on the cake,” Veterans Ride organizers said on the group’s website. “The town has been supporting our veterans for over 100 years. We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to start the ultimate Sturgis experience than right here in Hot Springs.”

Source: https://www.rushmoreregion.com/about-us/latest-news/rushmore-region-southern-hills-economic-development-to-welcome-veterans-charity-ride.html

​by Bryan Harley

It started 10 miles out of town. Tired from a hard days ride through some of the most majestic countryside you’ll find anywhere in the world, weary riders on the Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis got a second wind from the stirring sight of American flags on motorcycles blowing in the wind and a welcoming committee standing roadside in full salute. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders and other local veterans had ridden outside of Moab, Utah, to honor the group as they rolled in and to escort them to the celebration waiting for the veterans at Swanny City Park.