Annual cross country motorcycle ride to benefit Victory Junction Camp for chronically and terminally ill children.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - April 26, 2010
Local ride supporting Victory Junction Camp in 2008.
The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is making the final pre-Ride adjustments and preparing for its official departure from Indian Wells, CA on May 1. NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty and nearly 200 Ride participants will begin their 3,800-mile trek from California and cross the finish line at Victory Junction Camp in Randleman, N.C. Founded by Petty and his wife, Pattie, Victory Junction provides a medically-sound camping experience to children with chronic and terminal illnesses.
As they travel across the country, the Charity Ride participants will greet fans and supporters at overnight stops in North Las Vegas, Nev.; Richfield, Utah; Durango, Colo.; Amarillo, Texas; Texarkana, Texas; Choctaw, Miss.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Asheville, N.C. Celebrities scheduled to join Petty for all or part of the Ride include NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Matt Kenseth, legendary NASCAR driver Harry Gant, former NFL great and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker and supermodel Niki Taylor.
Since the Charity Ride's inception in 1995, more than 6,400 participants have logged more than 9.1 million cumulative motorcycle miles, traveled through 48 states, and donated more than $13 million to Victory Junction and other charities that support chronically ill children. The Petty's opened Victory Junction in 2004 in honor of their son Adam, whose life dream was to help children with terminal illnesses.
The year-round camp serves children, ages six to 16, whose health issues would typically prevent them from attending camp. Campers attend at no cost to their families, and transportation costs are covered, if needed. The camp operates solely on the donations of corporations, organizations and individuals. As a result of the Charity Ride, more than 7,000 children have attended Victory Junction free of charge. Last year, the Petty's broke ground on a second Victory Junction in Kansas City, Kan.
"With the economy continuing to struggle, these children and their families need our support now more than ever," said Petty. "Victory Junction provides life-changing opportunities for deserving children and their families and it's our hope that we are able to raise funds to impact many lives, despite the current economic challenges. Pattie and I are excited to hit the road with our fellow riders, sponsors and fans again this year. Riding across America provides unforgettable memories and lasting friendships for everyone involved."
Fans and spectators are encouraged to create "Dream Teams" that work together to host fundraisers in advance of the Charity Ride to help send a child to camp at Victory Junction. Collected donations will be presented to Petty and Ride participants at exclusive Dream Team events in cities along the Ride route. Visit
Kyle Petty – Charity Ride to register.
Petty continued, "Adam's passion for helping children drove him to think of new ways to impact their lives. His dream of opening a racing-themed camp for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses lives on today at Victory Junction. Please join us this year in 'Keeping the Dream Alive,' honoring Adam Petty by supporting the Charity Ride."
About the Kyle Petty Charity Ride across America
Sixteen years ago, NASCAR driver Kyle Petty combined his passion for helping others with his love of motorcycles to create the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. The annual trek raises funds for charities that support chronically ill children, engaging celebrities, ride sponsors, motorcycle enthusiasts and fans.
The inspiration for the Ride came in 1994, when Kyle and four friends rode their motorcycles from North Carolina to a NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway. Along the way, friends joined the ride, and by the time the group reached Phoenix, it included 30 riders. The turnout inspired Kyle and he decided to nurture the event into something bigger. The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America was born.
For the last six years, Victory Junction has been the Ride’s primary beneficiary. The camp was founded by Kyle and his wife, Pattie, to honor their son Adam, who was killed on the racetrack in 2000. Located on 84 acres in Randleman, N.C., the camp opened its doors in 2004 to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses by creating camping experiences that are memorable, fun, empowering, physically safe and medically sound. A second Victory Junction in Kansas City, Kan., is scheduled to open in 2011.
This year, Kyle and Pattie will lead a field of approximately 200 riders as they wind their way from Indian Wells, Calif., to Victory Junction in Randleman, N.C. from May 1-9. As a result of the Ride, more than 7,000 children have attended Victory Junction at no charge.
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