Last weekend at the International Motorcycle Show in New York City, Indian Motorcycle announced its continuing sponsorship of the Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis for 2016 and is, in fact, expanding its level of sponsorship this year. A veteran from the inaugural event was surprised to receive the gift of a customized Indian Scout by the Veterans Charity Ride and Champion Sidecars & Trikes. Veteran Marine Sean Carroll, wounded in the first Iraq war, participated in the 2015 ride and was positively affected by the motorcycle therapy provided by the ride.
“While serving in Iraq in 2004, 21-year old Sean was gravely injured from an IED (Improvised Explosive Device), resulting in the loss of his right leg and several fingers. Injuries such as this can take years to recover from. We wanted to do something special for Sean, giving him back a part of his life and his love of motorcycles,” says Dave Frey, founder of the Veterans Charity Ride and producer at Full Vision Productions. “Veterans Charity Ride and our supporters were so moved by his story, and seeing the results of the inaugural ride, we donated the money to purchase a new Indian Scout for Sean. We contacted Champion Sidecars & Trikes, who had donated the sidecars that Sean rode in, and they were immediately onboard with providing the first prototype trike kit for the new Indian Scout so that Sean could ride a motorcycle again.”
“Appreciation and support for our military and our veterans is core to the Indian Motorcycle brand,” said Steve Menneto, President of Motorcycles for Polaris Industries. “The success of the program was clear to us in Sturgis last year as these brave men and women rolled in to town. Helping our veterans after serious physical and mental injuries is an important cause, and we’re proud of offer our continued involvement and support. We look forward to the positive effects and results of this program year after year.”
Craig Arrojo, president of Champion Sidecars & Trikes is also committed to the Veterans Charity Ride in 2016, and had this to say, “The popularity of the Indian Scout and the request to do this trike project for Sean was an easy ‘yes’ for us. Dave Frey and this program really showed us how our products can be a big part of a veteran’s recovery. Our design engineering team and staff stepped up to get this project fast-tracked so Sean could ride with his fellow veterans next year.”
The epic ride and adventure departs Los Angeles on July 30 en route to Sturgis, SD and culminates at the 76th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Over the course of the nine day journey, 15 veterans will ride America’s most scenic backroads, experiencing iconic landscapes from the seat of an Indian motorcycle as an important part of their personal healing process. Several of the Indian models will be customized with Champion sidecars to accommodate riders who are unable to operate a motorcycle themselves due to their injuries.
Veterans seeking assistance and those wishing to view videos and stories of the past ride can log on to Veterans Charity Ride for more information including details on partner organizations offering assistance and services for veterans and their families.
Well done Indian.
I really respect what Polaris does for the veterans. A great example to all. It’s good to see HD following suit. I’m not sure anyone truly recovers from injuries like this but they do eventually heal physically.
I’m impressed at the interest and sales volume of the Scout vs the V-Rod. The only thing I can think of is the V-Rod was just a little too modern in design to appeal to the HD faithful. The Scout seems to have bridged that difference with good results.
Nice! A great gesture, we all know how healing, “going for a putt” can be sometimes, when nothing else will clear one’s head.
Many thanks to all who contributed.
To vets such recognition means more than you know.
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Semper Fi !!
So proud to be affiliated with company that just ‘gets it’ and contributes both funding and heart to such a inspiring group of Americans. Thanks to Polaris and the dozens of others that participate in this adventure of both healing and awareness…
As a disabled veteran that rides a Tri-glide, riding has given more peace and freedom to my life. My service dog rides in a custom enclosed trailer that pulls behind the trike. We used to love trying to commune with fellow bikers and veterans. Because of the injuries that I have sustained, I am unable to ride a two wheeled motorcycle any longer. I wish within the community of ‘bikers’ there was not as much palatable distain and disrespect for trikers trying to enjoy the freedom of riding. There always seems do be a sense of ‘otherness’ when we join a group of bikers. Real shame and disrespect by some bikers detracks from the experience of mixing with the biker community. Prejudice against three wheels eventhough we have sacrificed to enjoy the freedom of the road.
We ride, but no longer feel welcome by fellow bikers because of an extra wheel. We receive the feeling of otherness from most people when we are in public in our wheelchair. The eyes diverted to not acknowledge our existence because of preceived brokenness. Sorry you feel uncomfortable. We just wish the stigma of disablity was not excepted within the biking community. Ignorance crosses so many demographics of society.
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