Riding For Warriors kicks-off ninth annual motorcycle ride raising funds for Hope For The Warriors

Ten-day ride will raise money for programs supporting military families.

Photo Caption: Michael Nehlsen departing today for his ninth annual Riding For Warriors

For more past Riding For Warriors photos, visit: https://bit.ly/3xA81D0

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. (August 17, 2023) – The ninth annual Riding For Warriors ten-day motorcycle ride has kicked off today, from Hillsborough, N.J., benefiting Hope For The Warriors and its Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships programs. This year’s motorcycle journey is the John F. Ward Memorial Ride, honoring fallen and deceased heroes. Ward served in the U.S. Army and died in action while serving in Vietnam.

Celebrating 16 years of service, Hope For The Warriors assists veterans, service members and military families by providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community.

Since 2006, Hope For The Warriors has awarded Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships twice a year. The program recognizes and rewards post-9/11 spouses and caregivers for their strength, fidelity and resolve despite adversity as they assume critical roles in the financial well-being of their families.

For the ninth year, the ride will be led by Air Force veteran and Hillsborough-based Michael Nehlsen and sponsored by Union, N.J.-based Hillmann Consulting.

The 10-day journey will take Nehlsen through eight states and from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia. As a way to honor U.S. Veteran John F. Ward, memorial donations can be made with names written into the 2023 Honor Scrolls and will be honored at each of Nehlsen’s stops.

​​​​​​ ​​​“I am wholeheartedly committed to helping our military families achieve their goals and the Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships are a big part of that,” said Nehlsen. “Together, we can make a difference by giving Hope For The Warriors our collective support in their mission to help service members, military families, and families of the fallen.”

In eight years, Nehlsen has traveled over 35,000 miles on his motorcycle raising over $426,000 for the Hope For The Warriors Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarship program and the Warrior’s Wish providing wounded veterans with home appliances, computers, woodworking equipment, farm equipment, family trips, an art studio and more.

“Michael’s continued support for two of HOPE’s longest standing programs has been nothing short of amazing,” said Robin Kelleher, co-founder and president of Hope For The Warriors. “Not only is he raising critical funds, he’s raising critical awareness for what we do as a nonprofit, allowing us to reach and serve more military families.”

Key sponsors for Riding For Warriors include: Hillmann Consulting, LLC, Bill and Marguerite Nelson, MajGen. and Mrs. James Kessler. USMC (Ret), PAL Environmental, Enviropore, Fulton Bank, First Onsite, Restore Pro, Digital Building Solutions, Total Fire Protection – New York, NY and more.

For more information on Riding For Warriors or to make a donation, visit Hopeforthewarriors.org/ridingforwarriors2023.

For more information on Hope For The Warriors, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

About Hope For The Warriors: Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served over 159,000 through a variety of support programs focused on providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community. One of the nonprofit’s first programs, Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships, has awarded 232 scholarships to caregivers and families of the fallen. For more information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.