RIDING FOR WARRIORS TO KICK-OFF EIGTH ANNUAL MOTORCYCLE RIDE RAISING FUNDS FOR HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS

Photo Caption: Michael Nehlsen (left) and fellow riders from the 2021 Riding For Warriors.

For more 2021 Riding For Warriors photos, visit: https://bit.ly/3xA81D0

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. (June 9, 2022) – The Eight Annual Riding For Warriors 15-day motorcycle ride will kick-off June 30 at Camp Pendleton in Calif. benefiting Hope For The Warriors and its Warrior’s Wish and Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships programs. This year’s motorcycle journey will go coast-to-coast aiming to raise awareness and support for post-9/11 veterans and their families through a goal of raising $100,000 for the two programs.

Celebrating 16 years of service, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit that assists veterans, service members and military families with a variety of programming including health and wellness, sports and recreation and transition services.

Through one of its first established programs, Warrior’s Wish fulfills a desire for a better quality of life or supports a quest for gratifying endeavors for those who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty.

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 eighth year, the ride will be led by Air Force veteran and Hillsborough-based Michael Nehlsen and eight of his friends and sponsored by Union, N.J.-based Hillmann Consulting.

The 15-day journey will take Nehlsen and his riders through 14 states and from the No Man Left Behind monument at Camp Pendleton in San Deigo, Calif. to the one located at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C. Both donated by Hope For The Warriors, the monuments represent the photo captured in Fallujah by combat photographer Lucian Read and stand before the Warrior Hope and Care Centers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. John Phelps, artist, Vietnam veteran, and Gold Star Father, created the monuments.  A

​​​​​​”I am wholeheartedly committed to helping our service members achieve their goal,” 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 seven years, Nehlsen has traveled nearly 30,000 miles on his motorcycle raising over $253,000 for Warrior’s Wish providing wounded veterans with home appliances, computers, woodworking equipment, farm equipment, family trips, an art studio and more.

“For eight years Michael has continued to find a way to make each summer ride memorable and different, all while supporting military families through the Warrior’s Wish and Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships programs,” said Robin Kelleher, co-founder and president of Hope For The Warriors. “This year is no different as he and the dedicated riders make the journey across the United States all while raising awareness and funds for those we serve each day.”

Key sponsors for Riding For Warriors include: Hillmann Consulting, LLC, Bill Nelson, PAL Environmental, The Wawa Foundation, EMSL Analytical, Inc, Enviropore, Williams Harley Davidson, The Smoot Grasman Group, LLC, Colswell Banker Realty, WP W.J. Post, Inc.,  JVN Restoration, Ambient Mechanical Corp.

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

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 sense of self, family and hope for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served over 40,000 through a variety of support programs focused on health and wellness, sports and recreation and transition. One of the nonprofit’s first programs, Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships, has awarded 183 scholarships to caregivers and families of the fallen. For more information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.