The 3rd Annual Walleye Weekend Hearts to Heroes charity motorcycle ride is less than one month away. Started in 2015, Hearts to Heroes is a chance for the Fond du Lac Community to honor those who have served in the armed services. Because Walleye Weekend typically falls the same week as Armed Forces Day and Flag Day, citizens came forward to suggest a patriotic salute that would go toward helping veterans organizations in the Fond du Lac Community. That idea became the “Hearts to Heroes” charity motorcycle ride, now in its third year. The ride traditionally begins at Open Road Harley-Davidson of Fond du Lac, takes a tour through Fond du Lac County, and then ends at Walleye Weekend where riders can take in the evening’s entertainment and patriotic spirit. In its inaugural year, the Hearts to Heroes ride helped to fund the purchase of a new transportation vehicle for the Fond du Lac County Veterans Service Office. This vehicle is now used to provide transportation for veterans to and from medical appointments at the Zablocki VA Center in Milwaukee. In 2016, the ride grew to over 160 riders. Over $10,000 dollars were raised for Northeast Wisconsin Old Glory Honor Flight, an organization dedicated to transporting our local WWII and Korean War veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials built in their honor. Old Glory Honor Flight has honored over 3300 veterans with flights and tours of Washington since its inception. The money raised from last year’s Hearts to Heroes ride was enough to sponsor about 21 veterans. Hearts to Heroes 2017 festivities and day-of registration will begin at Open Road Harley-Davidson®, 24 S. Rolling Meadows Drive in Fond du Lac. Riders and supporters alike are encouraged to attend a “Patriotic Pre-Party” from 11- 1:30pm including music from Franki Jo Sachek. In addition, attendees have the opportunity to register to win a three night trip for two adults to Riu Palace Peninsula in Cancun, Mexico from Fox World Travel and Apple Vacations.
This year’s ride will tour western Fond du Lac County, riding strong through the communities of Eldorado, Rosendale, Ripon, Fairwater, Brandon, Waupun, and Oakfield. The group will rally at the Fond du Lac American Legion Headquarters, meeting up with American Legion Riders from “Rev’s Run” — the American Legion Wisconsin Legacy Ride. Then the group will roar down Main Street Fond du Lac and head in to Walleye Weekend at 5:15pm.
The 2017 Hearts to Heroes ride is Saturday, June 10th, 2017.
Online registration is now open at: http://www.fdlfest.com/walleye-weekend-map/hearts-to-heroes-charity-motorcycle-ride
You can also pre-register or register the day of the event in person at Open Road Harley-Davidson, 24 S. Rolling Meadows Drive in Fond du Lac. Registration and patriotic pre-party with music by Franki Jo Sachek begins at 11:00am. The kickoff ceremony begins at 1:30pm with kickstands up at 2:00pm.
Lori Thiel of Open Road Harley-Davidson joined American Legion Riders Wisconsin – 6th District David Girard, Jeff Puddy, John Butschli, Chris Slager & Jack Maloney in presenting the check.
