Hollywood and Motorcycle Celebrities Helped Raise Charity Funds at Buffalo Chip®’s 10th Anniversary Legends Ride®
Some of Hollywood’s brightest stars and motorcycling’s top industry leaders joined in the 2017 Legends Ride and Lunch to raise nearly $40,000 for charity.
Sturgis, SD (December 11, 2017) – Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars joined with the Buffalo Chip and Legends Riders at 2017’s 10th Anniversary Legends Ride presented by GEICO Motorcycle and together raised $32,150. The donation was split between two Black Hills charities, South Dakota Special Olympics and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Those who attended the exclusive Legends Lunch that preceded the ride raised an additional $6,625 for two veterans support organizations, the Black Hills-based Sgt. Colton Derr Foundation and famed stunt rider Carey Hart’s charity of choice, Infinite Hero Foundation. The charitable events were held on Monday, Aug. 7 on Deadwood’s Main Street and at the Silverado and Historic Franklin Hotel. To date the Buffalo Chip has donated nearly $600,000 to charity through signature events such as the Legends Ride and Lunch, with $83,375 donated in 2017 alone. Past charitable recipients have included Black Hills Children’s Home, Sky Ranch for Boys, Combat Wounded Coalition, America’s Mighty Warriors, Warrior Dog Foundation, Helping with Horsepower, Lakota Heritage, scholarship for women and educational scholarships.
The 2017 event was supported by GEICO Motorcycle, Indian Motorcycle, Black Hills Harley-Davidson, Deadwood Chamber of Commerce, Deadwood Tobacco Company, Hot Leathers, Rebel Yell, Pepsi, Metzeler, Kuryakyn, Renewable Fuels Association, S&S Performance, Silverado and Historic Franklin Hotel, Twisted Tea, Universal Trailer and Wrangler Jeanswear.
The Stars Came Out
Several Hollywood stars joined the 2017 Legends Ride including Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-Winning actor Tom Berenger, who served as honorary ride captain; Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Pat Simmons of The Doobie Brothers; and screen writer, actor and producer Carmine Cangialosi.
Also on hand were famed freestyle motocross racer and custom bike builder Carey Hart, the first family of custom motorcycling Arlen, Cory and Zach Ness, stuntman Doug Danger, famed artist David Uhl, Moonshiner Josh Owens, and filmmaker and actress Betsy Huelskamp.
The Auction
The 10th Anniversary, 165 horsepower performance-styled Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider customized by S&S Cycle and other unique items were auctioned in support of the Legends Ride shortly before the ride departed.
The Reasons Behind the Ride and Lunch
In an effort to help create a permanent athlete training facility for Special Olympians in the Black Hills, the Buffalo Chip has pledged $100,000 in future Legends Ride fees to renovate an existing facility to meet the growing needs of the organization. The 127 Special Olympians who are members of the “Rapid City Flame” team have been training in various borrowed locations over the past few years, but they are in need of a facility that will offer team members a sense of permanence and accomplishment. For several years, Legends Ride contributions were used to purchase a van to transport participants to practices and events; now the need for a facility is a priority.
High Profile Event
The Legends Ride is truly iconic. Its high-profile celebrity appeal has been featured on CMT, the National Geographic Channel, the Tonight Show, FX Network and the Travel Channel, as well as in countless print, online and newspaper articles. The Legends Ride will continue its mission of giving on Monday, Aug. 6, 2018. Those wishing to be part of the event may find more information at LegendsRide.com.
About the Legends Ride
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s Legends Ride is dedicated to bringing rally goers together to raise significant funds for local charities. Having raised well over $500,000 for charity since its inception in 2008, the Legends Ride has played host to some of the biggest names in television, film, music and motorcycling, along with riders from all corners of the world.
About The Sturgis Buffalo Chip
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling®. It is the world’s first and leading entertainment destination for the motorcycle enthusiast and 2017 South Dakota Excellence in Tourism Innovation award winner. Since 1981, the venue’s high-profile, nine-day festival, known as The Best Party Anywhere®, remains one of the world’s most televised and longest running independent music festivals. Located three miles east of Sturgis, SD on 600 creek-fed acres, it offers seven stages of entertainment, a swimming hole, bars, mouth-watering food, showers, cabins, RVs, camping and more to visitors traveling from all corners of the world. The Chip’s concerts are free with camping. The Motorcycles as Art exhibit curated by Michael Lichter, numerous bike and stunt shows and all shopping, live music and events at the CrossRoads are free and open to the public. More details are available at www.BuffaloChip.com.
