CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 1, 2011) – The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America announced the route for its 17th anniversary motorcycle event, which takes place May 7-14.
What started more than a decade ago as four friends wanting to travel from one race track to another has grown into a highly organized motorcycle ride that raises funds for Victory Junction and other children's charities. This year Kyle Petty, former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and Charity Ride founder, will lead a field of more than 175 riders from Lake Placid, N.Y., to Amelia Island, Fla., as they raise awareness and funds for several causes, including Victory Junction, a camp for chronically ill children founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their late son Adam.
"The idea for the Charity Ride started back in 1993 with Robin Pemberton (Vice President of Competition, NASCAR), Eddie Gossage (President and General Manager, Texas Motor Speedway) and Michael Dranes (FOX network cameraman) and me just kind of riding from track to track. We called it the "Hey Buddy Tour," said Petty who currently serves as a racing analyst for TNT and Speed. "What began as a few friends having a good time riding has turned into what we have today. Once we got started, we decided we needed to give back to the towns we rode through, so we started donating to children's hospitals along the way. The past few years though, it's really enabled us to make a difference at Victory Junction. We've built a water park and sent hundreds of kids to camp all because a bunch of people like to ride. It's pretty amazing to me."
The group will spend a couple of days in Lake Placid in preparation before they depart on May 7, and will be headquartered at the High Peaks Resort. "NASCAR, obviously, has a huge following," said Kimberly Rielly, director of communications for the Lake Placid CVB. "Like the Bodyn Bobsled project held here in years past, it will serve to both support a great cause, and will also provide ancillary exposure for our destination to a huge demographic."
In addition to 28 total fuel stops, riders will make overnight visits in Corning, N.Y., Farmington, Pa., Irvington, Va., Wilmington, N.C., Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and Amelia Island, Fla. during their 2,400-mile trek down the East Coast. Celebrities scheduled to join for all or part of the trip include ESPN NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty, former NFL great and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker and NASCAR driver and Bo-Dyn Olympic bobsled founder Geoff Bodine.
Since the Charity Ride's inception in 1995, 6,850 participants have logged more than 9.8 million cumulative motorcycle miles and donated more than $14 million to Victory Junction and other charities that support chronically ill children. The 2010 Charity Ride raised enough money to send 180 children to Victory Junction for a five-day session free of charge.
Victory Junction, which operates solely on donations, is a year-round camp serving children, ages 6 to 16, whose health issues would typically prevent them from attending camp. The Pettys founded the camp in 2004 and fundraising for a second Victory Junction in Kansas City, Kan., is currently underway.
2011 Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Schedule
Day 1
Saturday, May 7
Lake Placid, N.Y. to Corning, N.Y.
Day 2
Sunday, May 8
Corning, N.Y. to Farmington, Pa.
Day 3
Monday, May 9
Farmington, Pa. to Irvington, Va.
Day 4
Tuesday, May 10
**Remain in Irvington, Va.**
Day 5
Wednesday, May 11
Irvington, Va. to Wilmington, N.C.
Day 6
Thursday, May 12
Wilmington, N.C. to Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Day 7
Friday, May 13
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. to Amelia Island, Fla.
Day 8
Saturday, May 14
Ride officially ends in Amelia Island
About The Kyle Petty Charity Ride
Led by NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America raises awareness of and funds for Victory Junction and other charities supporting chronically ill children. The Charity Ride is one of the most successful and popular charity events in the country. Now in its 17th year, the Charity Ride has donated more than $14 million to Victory Junction and other children's charities, with 6,850 participants logging more than 9.8 million cumulative motorcycle miles. For more information about the Charity Ride, please visit www.kylepettycharityride.com.
About Victory Junction
Victory Junction is a year-round camping environment for children ages six to 16 with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their son Adam, the camp is located in Randleman, NC, with a second location opening soon in Kansas City, KS. Victory Junction offers programs for a range of disease groups and maintains strong relationships with more than 30 partner hospitals. Victory Junction's mission is to provide life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment. As a not-for-profit organization, the camp operates solely through the support of generous individuals, groups and corporations to provide this experience at no charge to children and their families. For more information or to donate, visit www.victoryjunction.org.