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ABOUT THE VET'S CHRISTMAS CHARITY RIDE
The Vet's Christmas Charity Ride was founded in December of 2001 by a retired Army Sergeant Major Jim Wertman, the general Manager of Carolina Honda, Gene Royer, the South Carolina Gold Wind Riders Association and business owner of All American Heating and Air, and the owner of Carolina Honda Earl Small Jr. from Atlanta Georgia. These three men set out on a path to bring Christmas to the hospitalized veterans of Dom VA Medical Center - and the first event that was planned was the Veterans Christmas Charity Ride. It was no easy task at first to convince the personnel at Dom V A Medical Center of a motorcycle ride that would bring Christmas to the hospitalized veterans. With the assistance of Priscilla Creamer and Patricia Bradford both of the Dom VA Hospital Staff they were able to convince the hospital that this would be a wonderful event that would bring Christmas Joy to all the Veterans in the hospital. So with the aide of the Hospital a Christmas Gift List was made, and the ride was born.
Local community businesses helped along with some local media sources, radio and tv to try an promote the ride. So on a cool December Sunday in 2001 the first Vets Christmas Motorcycle Charity Ride along with 500 riders brought Christmas to Dom VA Veterans. We new from the very first ride, how special this was not only for the veterans but also for the riders. A yearly tradition began in 2001 that touches the hearts of so many people each December. Just to make sure that bad weather did not stop the Christmas Ride AlISouth Credit Union set drop boxes for presents in all of their locations. They were are fail safe to make sure we had presents to bring in case of bad weather. As the ride grew each year there were more riders, more sponsors, and of course more presents. We were able to ad some Christmas cheer not only to the Veterans in Dom VA Hospital, but also to their two homeless shelters. Then one year the bad weather came and only 150 bikes. showed up. It was cold, with sleet, but the ride went on and thanks to AllSouth Credit Union and those riders, Christmas was delivered to Dom V A Hospital and the two VA homeless shelters. In 2004 Carolina Honda moved to their new dealership with over a 5 acre parking lot. That was a great year where we could get everyone together in one spot prior to the ride starting. In 2005 there was a major change to the Ride where the local Boy Scouts began serving a pancake and sausage breakfast for donations. What a great success it turned out to be, it was a great thing for the riders, and a great event for the two local Boy Scout Troops. It provided food for the hungry riders and much needed funds for the Boy Scout Troops.
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Copyright 2008, Vet's Christmas Charity Ride and JIM WERTMAN |
