RICHMOND, VA — What started out as a one-shot motorcycle charity ride is cruising into its sixth consecutive year for the Long Reach Long Riders. So far, the group has netted over $170,000 for the ESTA Foundation’s Behind the Scenes charity and other causes. Next summer’s tour starts July 31 in Richmond, Va. and ends Aug. 6 in Dahlonega, Ga. The group began in 2004 with a ride from Boone, N.C. to Long Beach, Calif., where the USITT conference was held. Since then, the group has toured in and around Rapid City, S.D. twice, visited historic New England and last year travelled from Las Vegas through Utah to Colorado and back.
Greg Williams and Alice Neff, founding members of the LRLR, are serving as Ride Marshals for 2009. Moe and Christine Conn helped map the route through the southern reaches of the Appalachian mountains, including a ride up Grandfather Mountain, through Deal's Gap and The Dragon's Tail.
“We've put together a ride that has scenery to wow even the most jaded traveler and roads that will satisfy the varying skill levels of the riders," Williams said. "We'd like as many people as possible to join the ride, of course, because the more riders we have, the more money we raise. I'm hoping that we set new records for not only the number of riders but also the amount of money raised."
Along with Behind the Scenes, the rides benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
For more information, please visit www.lrlr.org.
