An early Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you are all able to spend time with family and loved ones! If you have no one to celebrate with and want to travel to Redlands, Cal to celebrate with us, just let me know!
As many of you know, the RFTW BoD recently held a Town Hall meeting via Zoom. The meeting was very successful, and I want to thank all of you who took time out of your day to join the meeting.
If you have any Route specific questions, please contact the Route Coordinator for the Route which you have questions about. If you have questions about RFTW in general, please reach out to any of the Route Leadership team members listed on each of the RFTW Route Hubs under RUN DETAILS at RFTW.US
The planning and preparation for the RFTW 2027 Mission does continue. But what is our mission? Run for the Wall is 1 Mission, 4 Routes! That 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.”
We must continue to Say Their Names, Tell Their Stories, and Never Forget!
As the RFTW BoD, the Route Coordinators and their Leadership Teams continue to plan for RTFW 2027, now is the perfect time for you to ask yourself, “Why do I ride? Why do I take part in this Mission? What does this Mission mean to me?” Many of us have participated in this Mission for years and the saying Remember the Mission is very important. After years of participation, the Mission remains the same. To help remind us of why we ride, or to reinvigorate our spirit in the Mission, please take some time and watch the documentary “All The Way. The Story of Run For The Wall”. This documentary includes all 4 routes and riders and patriots from each Saying their names, Telling their Stories, and making sure we Never Forget!
We ride for comradery, we ride to remember, we ride to heal, we ride for our loved ones who can no longer ride. We ride trying to “Live a Life worthy of their Sacrifice”!
RFTW Southern Route 2027 now has over 118 registered riders and participants with less than 197 days until KSU May 19, 2027. If you have not registered yet, please do so as soon as possible. Early registration ends on January 31, 2027. Beginning February 1, 2027, registration cost increases. Early registration helps us plan for our stops and Hotel accommodations etc. You can register HERE.
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.
Southern Route Outreach Program
A message from Outreach Coordinator Karoni Forrester, Gold Star MIA Daughter
Since 2013, Run For The Wall – Southern Route has been taking a small group of riders to visit families of the fallen as we cross the country. Meeting families where they are – at their special place to honor their loved one – has proven to be incredibly meaningful for the families and the riders. Our visits are a powerful reminder to these families that their loved one is not forgotten, and neither are they.
Outreach missions take us away from the pack for roughly half of the day. We fuel with the pack, though our scheduled departure/arrival times are different. When fuel stops are required on Outreach, they are covered by your RFTW prepaid fuel purchase. Participation in our Outreach missions is voluntary, and recruiting begins now! If you’re interested in joining us, you can reserve a spot using our sign-up form at the link below. There will also be opportunities to volunteer in person in May as space allows.
We continue to welcome and embrace Gold Star and POW/MIA Families at our stops. We encourage you all to visit with them, help them feel welcome and send them home uplifted, knowing that we ride for those who can’t!
Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4BAEAE29A7FD0-67112382-runfor
If you know a Gold Star or POW/MIA Family you’d like to invite to meet up with us at one of our stops, please reach out to karoni.forrester@rftw.us.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are still in need of Volunteers (non-FNG’s) for a few positions. We are currently looking Platoon Leadership positions Please remember, the Platoon Leadership positions require GMRS- communications. If you are interested in any of these positions, please fill out a Volunteer form. Even if you have previously served on any given team, if you plan to do so again, please complete the volunteer form. volunteer form
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.
Say Their Names, Tell Their Stories, Never forget! Live a Life worthy of their Sacrifice!
RFTW Southern Route Coordinator 2027
Kevin “Short” Short
