Wheelers for the Wounded

[valkyrie610]

Hey guys, My name is Chris King, and I am with the Toyota Trail Riders in Texas. I had posted this in the AZLCA folder but missed ya'll.

I am heading up TTR's participation & fundraising in support of Wheelers for the Wounded.

Jason Havlik is a former soldier who is now a contractor in Iraq, and has started an organization to host wheeling events for wounded veterans and to raise funds for wounded veteran programs.

Wheelers for the Wounded is part of a non-profit organization with the goal of providing a weekend of off-roading and camping to our country’s wounded military members all over the United States.

The events will start criss-crossing the US at the end of the year. TTR and TTORA will host the event at BMRA on April 25 & 26, 2009.

I spoke with Jason (from Fallujah) yesterday, and he asked me if I had any contacts in Arizona that might be interested in supporting this project, so here I am. The Arizona TTORA Chapter is on board and could sure use some help.

Disabled Explorers will be hosting the Arizona event. That one is going to be more of a backroads tour through the desert and ghost towns. While it will not be necessarily a "challenging" run, it will be a nice run that won't guarantee damage to the vehicle. Teaming up with Disabled Explorers will be good because they've got guys who have lost legs and use hand controls to drive, which would be good info for some of our wounded vets who might want to drive.


Let me know what y'all think, and thanks for listening.

 

[BMAN]

Hell Yes!!!

The only limiting factor might be schedule, but as Club President I'll sure throw our support behind this effort. Actually this is similar to some charity type ideas that we've been throwing around for years at club meetings. We have a large contingent in Moab right now but I think I do a pretty good job of speaking for them when the time is right.

 

[inkpot]

Hell Yes!!!

The only limiting factor might be schedule, but as Club President I'll sure throw our support behind this effort. Actually this is similar to some charity type ideas that we've been throwing around for years at club meetings. We have a large contingent in Moab right now but I think I do a pretty good job of speaking for them when the time is right.

Howdy! I second the motion. Yea, no doubt there will be mondo support from this club. I didn't speak up cause I thought maybe we had to have a board meeting or something to make it official. Oh, wait a minute, duh, like have we ever had :whoops:a board meeting? John

 

[msahr]

This is a fantastic idea! We can't possibly begin to give back what our soldiers have given for us. I'm totally in. Thanks!

 

[valkyrie610]

Glad to hear it guys! You have an energetic group of willing helpers in the Arizona Chapter of TTORA (link to discussion here), in fact they were the ones who suggested I contact y'all... and I see why now!

According to Jason (of WFTW), Disabled Explorers has signed up to host the Arizona event. This makes things a little easier on y'all, so maybe you could focus on raising veteran's awareness and fundraising, without having the stress of putting the whole thing together on your own.

From what I understand, they are planning more of a backroads tour through the desert and ghost towns. While it will not be necessarily a "challenging" run, it will be a nice run that won't guarantee damage to the vehicle. Teaming up with Disabled Explorers will be good because they've got guys who have lost legs and use hand controls to drive, which would be good info for some of our wounded vets who might want to drive.

Thanks for the support!

 

[RHINO]

i'm already on board with this through disabled explorers, cool to see TTORA and now CSC getting in also.

 

[valkyrie610]

The more the merrier!

With everyone working together, I have no doubt this will be a landmark event that everyone can be proud of.

 

[1leglance]

Well as the founder of Disabled Explorers, a member of the Copper State Cruisers and someone who has met many of you I gotta say that I am super proud of the response that you have already shown without any details
The real push on this event will happen in the fall as this summer is brutally hot and I have the Continental Divide Expedition in July.
There will be a couple of fund raising events to raise money for the Big Event when the Offical Wheelers for the Wounded Jeep gets here for the Ride-A-Long.
For those of you who would like a chance to help out before next May when the WFTW Event is then keep an eye on Disabled Explorers - Home or my post on this forum for our Ride-A-Longs and Continental Divide Expedition Fundraisers.
I am looking forward to working with all of you.....I am going to post on the Wheelers for the Wounded forum now with some ideas and I would really like input there from all of you. Jason (the founder) ask that as much discussion happen there as possible so his sponsors can see some return on their investment in him.
Thanks
Lance