Here’s hoping everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
If you didn’t already know, the RFTW Merchandise Director, Alan “X-Box” Steiner has been putting together some excellent sales opportunities for everyone to take advantage of to purchase RFTW merchandise. The next special Alan has set up is occurring over Presidents Day weekend! You will receive Free shipping on any order with no minimum. Take advantage of this by ordering your 2024 patches, shirts, pins, and other items now! Shop RFTW Merchandise.
Our RFTW Mission is:
“To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends,
To call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA),
To honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and
To support our military personnel all over the world.”
On February 3, 2024, many of us were fortunate enough to attend the Celebration of Life for Capt. Ronald W. Forrester. What an honor and what a perfect example of WHY WE RIDE!
It was truly a beautiful celebration by Karoni and her family – and in the presence of all her extended RFTW and Texas A&M Family! Even though Capt. Forrester and Capt. Ralph Chipman are now home, we will not stop Saying Their Names, Telling Their Stories, and Never Forgetting them!
This is why we RIDE; This is why I RIDE!
Until they all come home, until they are all accounted for, we must continue to Live a Life worthy of their Sacrifice! Say Their Names, Tell Their Stories, and Never Forget!
The planning and preparation for the RFTW 2024 Mission has continued and the Southern Route Leadership teams continue to prepare and finalize our itinerary. Our official Itinerary is scheduled to be published on the RFTW website on or about March 31, 2024. There are no changes to our Night stops as indicated in our Hotel List. Even though the 2024 Itinerary isn’t posted yet with the minute to minute timeline of our stops, you can check out the updated 2024 Southern Map & Stops here! The map has been updated and includes all of our stops including our new gas stops!
REGISTER FOR THE RUN TODAY!!!
RFTW Southern Route 2024 now has over 328 registered riders and participants with less than 90 days until KSU May 15, 2024. If you have not registered yet, please do so as soon as possible. Beginning February 1, 2024, registration cost increased to $60.00. You can register HERE. ALL registration is conducted on-line via this website link so please register prior to your arrival to make things go smoothly and quickly!
RFTW has a new updated Rider Code of Conduct that every rider and participant is required to read and adhere to. Please be respectful to all riders, participants, and supporters by adhering to this code of conduct while on the Run. You are required to confirm you have read this during your registration.
Remember, all riders and participants must check-in with registration upon arrival and joining us on the Southern Route. Whether you are going All the Way (ATW) or at one of our night stops you need to give yourself enough time to check in with the registration team. Registration will be open both in the evenings after our arrival at our dinner stops and in the morning at our staging location. However, it is best if you arrive and check-in the evening before departure; mornings are much more hectic and limited in time.
Also, all riders need to be able to show valid identification (license), valid motorcycle registration, and current motorcycle insurance information at check-in. Failure to have these items may cause a delay in your check-in.
Missing Man Formation
Our Missing Man Coordinator has multiple openings to ride in the Missing Man Formation (MMF). If you are interested in riding the MMF, please send an email to Missing Man Coordinator Rick “SpeedBump” Shoaf at Rick.Shoaf@rftw.us. Rick will explain the process, requirements, and expectations of riding in the MMF during the run.
Pre-Paid Fuel
For the second year the Pre-Paid fuel option will be available on the Southern Route. If you are riding from California to DC, we encourage all riders to take advantage of the Pre-Paid fuel option. As a direct result of the Pre-Paid fuel option, Southern Route saw a significant decrease in the amount of time it took to fuel the entire pack last year. Shorter waiting times in the fuel lines equate to more down time off the bikes for the riders and that means more time for hydration, snacks, and bathroom breaks!
Please keep in mind that the Pre-Paid fuel option applies to the 23 planned and coordinated fuel stops we will be making during the day while on our Mission. ALL riders are still required to fuel on their own filling their tanks prior to staging each morning. Whether you decide to top-off at night on the way to your hotel; or on your way to staging in the morning; you must still fill up your gas!
The Pre-Paid fuel option is $150.00. You can take advantage of the Pre-Paid fuel option early by using the Zelle payment app and sending $150.00 to Southern.Route@rftw.us If you use the Zelle app, please add “SR Pre-Paid Fuel 2024” in the Memo line. We will receive the notification of the payment and will have a list of those who have Pre-Paid at Registration in Ontario, CA.
If you do not use Zelle, you can also send a check to:
Run For The Wall Inc.
50 Fourth Ave #1445
Dayton, NV 89403
If you send a check you need to add a note about what Route you are on and what the check is for i.e. Southern Route Pre-paid Fuel/Southern Route Luggage Fundraiser.
Fundraising
The Southern Route is offering a fundraising opportunity that may benefit all riders’ safety! Our newest fundraiser is the Luggage Fundraiser. The SR will have a dedicated enclosed trailer to transport luggage. This will allow riders to remove bags normally strapped onto their bikes and have them securely transported for them from our morning starting location to our nightly dinner stop. This adds to the safety of all riders by removing bags that could obstruct other riders’ view of bikes in front of them; preventing a rider from focusing on a loose item on another bike around them; and removes the added weight allowing for better control of your bike while riding in formation. Riders will be required to drop off their bag(s) at the morning staging/breakfast location. Bags will not be available until our final night/dinner stop. Riders will be restricted to 2 bags per bike. A check-in/check-out procedure will be followed ensuring no-one absconds with a bag that is not their own. The cost will be $7 per day or $50.00 for all 10 days. A prorated rate may be available depending on your starting location. Ask at check-in! If you wish to take advantage of this new fundraiser, you can also prepay by using the Zelle app and Southern.Route@rftw.us Please add “Luggage Fundraiser” to the memo section when submitting your payment.
If you plan to purchase the Pre-Paid Fuel and the Luggage Fundraiser all in one transaction; please enter both “SR Pre-Paid Fuel 2024” and “Luggage Fundraiser” on the memo line. If you are paying for more than one bike, please note that as well.
Leave no one behind does not end on the battlefield!
If you or someone you know find themselves struggling with their mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988 then press 1 or text 838255 and speak or chat with a qualified responder.
Darin “Lurch” Koch
RFTW Southern Route Coordinator 2024
