PALMDALE – Ride2Recovery’s inaugural Amgen Tour of California (ATOC) Honor Ride Palmdale, a self-paced, non-competitive ride to help raise funds for injured veterans, will honor 14 local fallen war heroes at its upcoming ride.
The ride will be held on April 6, beginning at 8:30 am, at Marie Kerr Park, 2723 Rancho Vista Boulevard in Palmdale.
The ATOC Honor Ride Palmdale will honor fallen war heroes, including John E. Allen, Ryan Clark, George Delgado, Walter Freeman, Jason George, Fernando Hannon, Christopher Leon, Joseph Lopez, Javier Olvera, Brian Pedro, Matthew Ramsey, Marvin Sprayberry, Ian Stewart and Allan Walker.
“We’re thankful that the Honor Ride not only provides a means to raise much needed funds to help our healing heroes, but also gives our community the opportunity to honor our local heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Palmdale’s Communications Manager John Mlynar.
Hosted by the City of Palmdale, the Amgen Tour of California Honor Ride Palmdale is open to injured veterans and the general public of all ages.
Participants may ride one of three distances: 20, 44 or 71 miles, all of which begin and end at Marie Kerr Park in Palmdale. A 200-meter Honor Bike Race for kids ages 5 to 10 – with prizes – will also be held.
Participants may register at www.active.com/cycling/palmdalebr-93551-ca/atoc-honor-ride-palmdale-2013, or visit www.ride2recovery.com/honor_ride and click on the Amgen Tour of California Honor Ride Palmdale listed on the 2013 Schedule. Registration is also available on Ride day beginning at 7:45 am, and the Ride will start at 9 am. Pre-registration is highly recommended.
Sponsorships and donations from individuals not riding in the event are also accepted.
Registration and packet pick-up will also be available on Friday, April 5, from 3 pm to 6 pm at Marie Kerr Park Recreation Center, 2723 Rancho Vista Blvd. The cost is $75 per rider, $125 per family with 2 adults per household and no limit for the number of children. The Kids Honor Bike Race is $10. Discounts are available for teams. Teams of 5 cost $60 per rider; teams of 10 cost $60 per rider.
The ride is FREE to injured military, active duty or retired.
A portion of the registration fee is tax-deductible and includes tech shirt, route slip, SAG support and rest stops. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) helmets must be worn at all times by all riders.
“The Honor Ride is a fun, non-competitive ride that brings together families, veterans, cyclists, fitness enthusiasts and community supporters, all of whom are working toward the same goal – to raise funds and awareness for our healing heroes and to provide another means of rehabilitation for them, through the wonderful sport of cycling,” said Ride2Recovery National Honor Ride Director Linda Glassel.
“Our goal is to have a fun, non-competitive ride that brings together families, veterans, cyclists, fitness enthusiasts and community supporters, all of whom are working toward the same goal – to raise funds and awareness for our healing heroes and to provide another means of rehabilitation for them, through the wonderful sport of cycling,” added Glassel.
The routes will follow many of the same streets that will be ridden by cyclists on Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California which comes to Palmdale on Tuesday, May 14.
The 20-mile route will leave Marie Kerr Park, head west on Rancho Vista Blvd. to Ave. N; head west on Ave. N to 70th West; continue north to Ave I; and return the same route back to Marie Kerr Park.
The 44-mile route is the same except riders will head west on Avenue I to 120th St. West; continue onto Fairmone-Neenach Rd.; turn left onto Munz Ranch Rd.; turn left onto Elizabeth Lake Rd.; and at the rest stop return the same route back to Marie Kerr Park.
The 71-mile route follows the 44 mile route, but continues on Elizabeth Lake Rd. to San Francisquito Canyon Rd., where riders will turn right and proceed to Spunky Canyon Rd.; turn left on Spunky Canyon to Bouquet Canyon; right on Bouquet Canyon to Elizabeth Lake Rd; and return on the same route back to Marie Kerr Park.
Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are available. To volunteer, visit www.ride2recovery.com and click on “Honor Ride” then “Getting Involved.” For sponsorship opportunities, contact Stella Knight at 661-267-5699 or at sknight@cityofpalmdale.org.
(Information via press release from the city of Palmdale.)
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Mayor Ledford says
Tomorrow we remember our fallen hero’s, those who gave their lives to protect all that our United States of America stands for. Join us please.
John Mlynar says
Hi Jowa:
Thank you for that information. I passed it along to the Ride2Recovery folks.
Jowa Wildes says
You need to add another one. His name is Keith Fiscus. He was killed in action in Iraq in December 2006. He went to Littlerock High school he later moved to Delaware for his senior year. There is a plaque to honor him in the high school main office.