Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Counts Down to Kick-Off

GFP Note: Peachtree City is one of eight cities selected as overnight stops on the 2008 Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. More than 250 motorcycle riders will descend on Peachtree City on July 18 as they travel from Traverse City, Mich., to Savannah, Ga., this summer in an effort to raise money for Victory Junction Gang Camp and other charities that support chronically ill children.

The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is counting down the days until its official kick-off celebration in Traverse City, Mich., on July 11.

One month from today, more than 200 Charity Ride participants will join Traverse City residents and community leaders at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in a show of support for children with chronic illnesses. Led by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, the riders will begin their 3,000-mile trek from Traverse City to Savannah, Ga., on the morning of July 13. Ride participants include NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Harry Gant, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, Chick-fil-A President and COO Dan Cathy, football great Herschel Walker and supermodel and TV host Niki Taylor.

The 14th Anniversary Charity Ride benefits Victory Junction Gang Camp and other children’s charities. Petty and his wife, Pattie, founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C., in 2004. The year-round camp serves children with serious health issues, ages 7 to 15, at no cost to their families. Dean Kessel, former director of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsorship for Sprint, was named president of the camp earlier this year.

The Pettys recently announced plans to open a second Victory Junction Gang Camp in Wyandotte County, Kan. Mike Lepore, former executive vice president of Institutional Lending for Wells Fargo, has been named president of the new camp.

“Pattie, Mike and I are hard at work on our plans for the new Victory Junction Gang Camp and are so grateful for the support of participants and donors to the Charity Ride for helping make this vision a reality,” said Petty. “We’re excited about bringing the Victory Junction experience to a new region of the country and empowering even more children to achieve their dreams.”

Communities along the Ride route are encouraged to become involved in this year’s Charity Ride though the Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge, which challenges community members to form teams to raise funds for and awareness of the Charity Ride and its beneficiaries. Teams may register for free at www.kylepettycharityride.com. Registered teams will receive “Dream Team Packs” containing background information on the Charity Ride, Victory Junction Gang Camp and Charity Ride sponsors, as well as ongoing updates, fundraising tips and inspirational Victory Junction camper stories.

“We’ve already seen a wonderful response to our inaugural Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge,” said Petty. “From the KLT Pitstop Dream Team in Traverse City to the Raleigh HOGs, Dream Teams across the country have come up with creative ways to raise money for this year’s Charity Ride. I hope even more Dream Teams will join us to support children with serious medical conditions. Every penny counts.”

Collected donations may be mailed to Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc., 125 Floyd Smith Drive, Suite 45, Charlotte, NC 28262. Checks should be made payable to “Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc.” and indicate “Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge” in the “For” line. For more information on the Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge, visit www.kylepettycharityride.com.
Fans, media and Charity Ride supporters are invited to participate in the Ride – virtually – at www.kylepettycharityride.com. The Virtual Ride allows users to view video footage, photos, Kyle’s daily blog entries and sound clips from each day’s adventures on the road.

Pictured: Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A

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