Rapid City Journal: Veterans charity ride coming to Hot Springs

​HOT SPRINGS –Every year, the organizers of the Veteran’s Charity Ride take wounded and amputee veterans on Indian Motorcycles, custom built Champion sidecars and trikes, from Los Angeles to the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota for the Adventure of a Lifetime.

​In 2015, eight veterans made the trip on brand new Indian Motorcycles with two custom built Champion sidecars.

In 2016, they expanded the program to include 20 veterans and four sidecars.

In 2017, the ride to Sturgis will take another 20 veterans on this epic journey with a fleet of Indian motorcycles that includes six Champion sidecars rigs.

They will spend nine days riding on America’s most beautiful backroads and highways, getting to know each other and helping each other with Motorcycle Therapy and Veteran to Veteran discussions. The shared experiences of serving bring them together, veteran to veteran to help each other heal. The Veteran’s Charity Ride also shows the Veterans just how much their service means to America, by stopping in small towns along the way to meet the grateful people of our nation who want to welcome and celebrate these brave men and women. Along the way the riders take part in excursions and meet with interesting and inspiring people.

The nine-day journey stops in various towns and cities along the way, giving the veterans a chance to meet the grateful citizens they helped protect.

Towns along their route include Las Vegas, Nev.; Moab, Utah; Denver, Colo., and Hot Springs.

Once in Sturgis, they spend the week of the rally, riding the Black Hills, attending events and giving the veterans the unique “Sturgis Experience”. This simple concept, born out of a cross-country ride and a big purpose to help veterans is now a nationally recognized program.

This year, on Friday, August 4, the Veterans Charity Ride will be here in Hot Springs.

The riders will stay overnight at the Red Rock River Resort. A banquet will be held at Woolly’s Grill & Cellar at 6 p.m., sponsored by the Southern Hills Economic Development Corporation (SHEDCO) in conjunction with Rushmore Region.

Please join us along North River Street to welcome and honor these veterans as they enter town between 4 and 5 p.m.

It’s a memorable event which leaves an indelible impression.

Source: http://rapidcityjournal.com/veterans-charity-ride-coming-to-hot-springs/article_6984ad2a-6b13-11e7-bef2-878991cb5a3f.html?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=Veterans%20Charity%20Ride