An Ohio man is gearing up to embark on a 10,000-mile journey, a feat he completed once before and never thought he would do again. But this time, he’s doing it all for a noble cause – to support veterans. The journey will take him through various terrains and challenges, but his determination to make a difference in the lives of those who have served our country will keep him going.
Patrick Romeo accomplished the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2020, which commences in Florida and concludes in Alaska.
Romeo stated that he had no intention of doing the ride again as it was quite challenging and difficult.
After completing the challenge once, riders are permanently assigned a number. Romeo was given the number 988, which he decided to display on his motorcycle after two years. The significance of this number increased when it became the designated number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Because of this, Romeo felt compelled to participate in the challenge again. As a result, his motorcycle now showcases the number 988 in multiple locations.
He said that it was more than just a coincidence and that it was a sign for him. “When 988 came out, the first thing that came to my mind was that it was my number. I couldn’t think of a better way to help our veterans and promote it than by riding across the country with it on my windshield and working with Resurrecting Lives Foundation to spread the word,” he said.
In order to participate, individuals must fundraise for a charity or nonprofit organization. For his initial ride, Romeo joined forces with the Resurrecting Lives Foundation (RLF), a nonprofit based in central Ohio that is dedicated to promoting veterans’ brain health and reducing the rate of veteran suicides. Romeo has once again teamed up with RLF for his upcoming ride.
According to Dr. Chrisanne Gordone, the founder of RLF, “It is just the most magnificent gift we could ever ask anybody to do,” referring to the fact that he has chosen to help them again.
As an Air Force veteran and former firefighter, Romeo has dedicated his life to giving back. He continues to do so every day, one dollar, one mile at a time. His commitment to service is unwavering and inspires others to make a positive impact in their own way.
He stated that the challenges he will face during the ride are insignificant compared to what many veterans have to endure on a daily basis.
Participants of the challenge are prohibited from using GPS, which means they will rely on written directions provided to them at each checkpoint. Additionally, they must spend the night outside with their motorcycles. Romeo will write these directions on his windshield to help him navigate the challenge without GPS.
He expressed that the cost is nominal, and it’s all thanks to our veterans that he has the privilege to choose to participate in this ride.
In just 13 days, Romeo successfully completed his first ride and he’s eager to do it again. That means he will be covering approximately 770 miles per day. Last year, he was able to raise an impressive $25,000 dollars for RLF. This year, the goal is to double that amount. If you would like to support RLF through Romeo’s upcoming ride, you can do so by clicking here.
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