“I’m so grateful to the participants in this year’s ride and all our veterans for their service to our country,” Wahlberg said. “This ride is a wonderful opportunity to support each other and enjoy the natural beauty of this great nation.”
The 1,766-mile tour will traverse multiple states and offer “Motorcycle Therapy” to hand-selected wounded and amputee veterans from all branches of the military. They will be in the wind on Indian motorcycles, specially modified Indian trikes, and Champion sidecars. A total of 20 veteran and veteran mentors will join the ride this summer.
The program was created by veteran Army Paratrooper David Frey and Emmy Award-winning producer and director Robert Manciero to bring forward the therapeutic effects of motorcycle riding to wounded veterans. The ride will be filmed so veterans and their loved ones can share in the experience from anywhere.
“We’ll spend over a week riding on America’s most beautiful roads, getting to know each other and helping each other through Motorcycle Therapy,” said Frey. “The shared experience of serving brings us together, veteran to veteran, to help each other heal. We also show the veterans just how much their service means to America by stopping in small towns along the way to meet the people of our nation who want to celebrate these brave men and women.”
The journey will last nine days and stop in towns and cities so the veteran riders can mingle with thankful citizens. The route includes stops in Las Vegas, Moab, Denver, and Hot Springs. Once they arrive at Sturgis, the veterans will spend a week riding the black hills and attending various events. These include a luncheon with the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group, the Legends Charity Memorial Ride, VIP access to live music at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, the Freedom Celebration Ride departing Spearfish, and a special shooting competition.
“Supporting our veterans by donating sidecars to accommodate amputee veterans in a safe, comfortable manner is something near and dear to our team and to me personally,” said Craig Arrojo, President of Champion Sidecars. “We are honored to be associated with such a worthy event, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Veterans Charity Ride for years to come.”
