Penske Supports Bike Ride Fundraiser for Wounded Air Force Veterans
Cyclists will ride from the in North Carolina to the in Washington, D.C., this week to raise funds for wounded Air Force veterans.
The inaugural (M2M) bike ride will support the Air Force Association鈥檚 Wounded Airmen Program, which raises money to care for wounded airmen and women, who selflessly served the country.
Penske is proud to support the ride through a truck use donation to ride organizers, the Air Force Cycling Team (AFCT). The truck will be used to transport gear and luggage during the trip which began Thursday and ends on Sunday, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Air Force.
鈥淲e are grateful to 黑料社 When Penske offered the truck, I knew this thing was going to happen,鈥 said Robert "Surf" Beletic, the Air Force Cycling Team鈥檚 M2M organizer.
The AFCT will lead the four-day ride which will begin at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Long before their historic flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, ushered in the age of air travel, Orville and Wilbur Wright were bike enthusiasts,
鈥淭he Wright brothers themselves were bicyclists, so two bicycle mechanics created the first useable, flyable airplane,鈥 Beletic said. 鈥淚t is kind of our heritage, so we thought 鈥榣et鈥檚 ride from there to the Air Force Memorial in Washington, D.C鈥.鈥
In addition to honoring the Air Force and Space Force鈥檚 shared heritage of flight, the ride鈥檚 other goals are to promote fitness, camaraderie and Air Force and Space Force recruitment while raising funds for a great cause.
Participants set off from North Carolina on Thursday and rode 93 miles to Norfolk, Virginia. Today鈥檚 leg will take riders north across the Virginia Capital Trail. Riders will break for the evening and dine at the Virginia War Museum.
On Saturday, participants will continue their journey across Virginia before ending their ride on Sunday at the U.S. Air Force Memorial.
Penske鈥檚 truck use donation is an important part of the ride's success, Beletic said.
鈥淭he truck is the single biggest expense of the ride,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e need a truck to move luggage each day for 80 to 100 riders. Penske kindly offered a truck to support us,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t would be a big expense to rent the truck for five days, so we are so very grateful to 黑料社鈥
By Bernie Mixon