It’s only 42 Days to KSU! Have you started planning your route to get to Ontario and back home? Have you checked your motorcycle and gear? Did you make sure you made all the necessary hotel reservations? Have you uploaded the latest updates to your phone, radio, and GPS?
The time will fly by, and before you know it, we will be in Ontario. Currently, the Central Route has 330 people registered with 96 FNG’s!
It’s starting to get real! The Schedule of Events for Ontario and Washington, D.C as well as the official 2026 Central Route Itinerary have been uploaded to the Central Hub. This is your 10-day schedule for May. Read and understand it. Put it on your phone or print hard copy for yourself.
If you wish to print a hard copy BOOKLET for yourself, use the PRINT BOOKLET Option with Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader.
The March 2025 newsletter has instructions for viewing the itinerary on your Apple/Android phone.
Take the time to look at the information in the itinerary regarding times and places to be. Pay particular attention to any item in Green which refers to the Central Route.
Registration and Check In
Check in for riders start at 0900 Monday, May 11th at the Elks Lodge. For those not starting in Ontario, the registration team will be available approximately 30 minutes before the pack arrives at the end of the day until 30 minutes or so after their arrival. I highly recommend you check in at registration in the evening. You can check in at registration in the morning, but you could be pressed for time trying to find your platoon, eat breakfast, get through all the introductions, and attend the morning meeting.
If you need to cancel your registration, please send an email to Lance Wheeler at risk.management@rftw.us. It will help Registration adjust the Platoon numbers so that they are not grossly uneven, as well as the volunteer groups that feed us so that there isn’t any wasted food.
Go the Central Route Hub for more information.
Rolling to Remember
Rolling to Remember previously known as Rolling Thunder. For those not participating in Sandbox, Rolling is event you may wish to participate. This is not an RFTW-sanctioned event and participation is entirely voluntary. Please read April 2026 President’s Message for more information about this and the wreath laying at ANC.
Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown
As in the past, RFTW has been granted access for 75 motorcycles to enter the Arlington National Cemetery and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Central has been allocated 28 motorcycles with 56 seats available to enter these hallowed grounds. The priority for those to represent the Central Route will be FNG’s. If you are interested let your Platoon Leader or FNG Coordinator know. Depending on the numbers received we may have to have a lottery system to determine who will go.
Volunteers
Staging still needs volunteers!
If you are interested in volunteering to help on the Run, please let me know. I could use backups for all positions in case someone has to cancel or drop out from the Run.
Donations
Part of what keeps this Run going is the generous Donations we receive from the Public and Run for the Wall family. RFTW is a 501(c)3 so if you know of anyone that wishes to donate, please direct them to our donation page. Donate – Run For The Wall®
During the Run, we have fundraising events to help our beneficiaries along the Run. One of these events is our daily raffle where we have several donated items to raffle off. We still need donated items to raffle off, so if you are able to gather any donated items from local motorcycle dealers or other businesses it would be much appreciated. Please send me an email if you do get any donated items.
Update
From Carol our RFTW California State Coordinator, “On your way to Ontario stop at the Spotlight 29 Casino and Shelee’s for fuel. Both have yummy food and snacks they are rolling out the red carpet for RFTW SR on the first fuel stop. Media advertising at the pumps, digital billboards, etc. They are so touched with our Mission and want to do more each year. Take time to stop say hi and tell them that you are with RFTW and to thank them for their support!”
To reiterate items from last month.
Pre-Paid Fuel
Central Route will be having Pre-Paid Fuel for 2026 is $65.00 per motorcycle or trike. The money collected will cover your RFTW fuel stops from Ontario, CA to Washington, DC. Thanks to our many donors across the country, whose generosity allows us to keep our fuel costs down. Without them our prepaid fuel costs would be much, much higher.
The Pre-Paid fuel fee also helps defray the cost of fuel for our support vehicles, like the Chase Truck Team drivers, Last Man Vehicle, and Hydration Vehicle.
There are two ways to pay for the pre-paid sticker prior to April 30th
ZELLE – email addresses for Central Route is: central.route@rftw.us
It is important not to miss the . (period) before “route”
CHECK – Checks should be made out to “Run For The Wall, Inc.” Make sure you enter ”Central Route Prepaid Fuel” in the check’s memo section on the check or by accompanying paperwork.
The RFTW Treasurer Official mailing address is:
Run For The Wall Inc.
Central Route Prepaid Fuel
50 Fourth Avenue, Unit 1445
Dayton, NV 89403-8169
After April 30th, you will need to wait until you check in at registration desk.
You will need to purchase a fuel sticker, using CASH, at check-in when you pick up your registration materials in Ontario, or any of our overnight stops where you register and check-in. You will then receive the sticker to put on your bike.
Exact change only. No change will be given at the registration desk.
All Riders please remember to fill up your motorcycles each evening on your own, at your own cost, before arriving at staging in the morning (Spot checks will be happening). If you don’t have a full tank in the morning, you will be sent away to fuel, possibly missing breakfast and the morning rider meeting.
Kansas Turnpike
IMPORTANT: All riders and support vehicles on Central Route that register online after April 30th MUST notify the Registration team at time of check-in so they can correctly enter your vehicle’s State and license plate number. Otherwise, you may receive a toll bill from the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
If you have a DriveKS or KTAG account, you will need to deactivate the tag of the vehicle you will be using for RFTW before May 18, or you may get a toll charge.
A huge thank you goes to CVMA 21-4 for covering our tolls on the Kansas Turnpike.
If you miss the morning rider meeting, you cannot ride with the pack for that day.
Morning Meetings
There have been some questions from those that do not wish to ride in the pack but want to participate in the RFTW activities.
If you have registered for the Run but choose not to ride with your assigned platoon, you must stay at least ¼ of a mile behind the last man vehicle. If you decide to ride ahead of the pack, you must do so at least 2 miles ahead of the Road Guard Captain and/or the police escort (if they are in front). By riding outside of the pack, you will not have the support of the chase vehicles, in case you have a mechanical issue or medical emergency.
AGAIN, Regardless of where you ride, if you have REGISTERED for the RFTW and wish to partake in the RFTW EVENTS for that day, you MUST attend the Morning meetings!
There will be a mandatory rider meeting every morning. This meeting is to inform the riders of any changes to schedule and any other issues that may have come up the previous day.
Again, this morning meeting is mandatory.
Parking in D.C.
Unfortunately, no reserved parking is available this year. I would recommend you take some form public transportation (Uber, Metro, etc.) to the Lincoln Memorial/Vietnam Wall where our group photo takes place and where we honor our fallen at the wall. If you decide to ride to the Lincoln Memorial/Vietnam Veterans Memorial, you must park in a legal parking area. Do not park on the grass, in no parking zones, on the sidewalk, etc. If you park there, you may be subject to your bike being ticketed or impounded. Also, the LEO may notice your RFTW stickers, banners, etc. and make a report of that, possibly jeopardizing future RFTW events in the area. There will be other Veterans and tourist groups present during the Memorial Day weekend in D.C. so it will be a busy, crowded weekend and parking will be limited.
A reminder that all Camping Spots are full at the Elks Lodge in Ontario. See the notice here
After Action Reports (AAR). You will be hearing more about this in the future, but it is your opportunity as a participant in RFTW to provide feedback about your experience on the Run, both good and bad. All AAR’s are taken seriously and read by the Board and Route leadership. AAR’s in the past have resulted in changes in operating procedures. So your feedback matters.
GMRS Radios Links
**See this post on Where and What to Buy, and all things GMRS for RFTW.**
**See this Post for Videos on how to Program the radios** or here.
REMEMBER TO DISABLE AUDIO RELAY ON THE RADIO AND MAKE SURE YOUR VOX IS DISABLED!
Get your body ready and start getting in the habit of HYDRATING!
If you haven’t already, start riding and get your service done!
Tolle moras. Semper nocuit differre paratis
(Avoid delays: procrastination always does harm)
Get ready for RFTW XXXVI!
Mission Statement
To promote healing among all veterans and their family and friends
Call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War & Missing in Action (POW/MIA)
Honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA)
Support our military people all over the world.
Is it May yet?
Jim “Who?” McDonough
XXXVI Central Route Coordinator
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Midway Route Photos from previous runs are no longer available. 