Hundreds of motorcyclists headed out from Indian Wells, Calif. this past Saturday, set on traveling 3,800 miles to reach Randleman, N.C., by Sunday, May 9. They’re doing so as part of the 16th annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. Petty, a NASCAR driver and broadcaster as well as a motorcycle enthusiast, started the race in 1995, one that’s scheduled to include celebrities such as ex-NFL star Herschel Walker, retired NASCAR driver Harry Gant and actress and model Niki Taylor, according to Blount Today.
The race will raise money for Victory Junction, a not-for-profit organization that has a camp operating year-round for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses, and it has a large contingent of NASCAR drivers lending their support. Based in Randleman (with another planned to be built in Kansas), the camp was started in 2004 by Petty and his wife, Pattie, in honor of their son Adam. Adam was also a NASCAR racer who was killed during a practice run in 2000.
Since the race began in 1995, more than $13 million has been donated to Victory Junction as well as other children’s charities, and the 6,000-plus participants have traveled in excess of 9 million cumulative miles on their motorcycles.
To get updates on the race, go to the Kyle Petty Charity Ride website or its Twitter feed.
Photo by Darryl W. Moran via Flickr.