The 74th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is in full swing and celebrities from the motorcycle, music, and entertainment industries are getting together to show their support for South Dakota charities.
Organizers say the Legends Ride was started by the Sturgis Buffalo Chip to raise money to help South Dakota youth and also to preserve the history of motorcycling.
Frank Fritz from the television show American Pickers is among the personalities taking part in the Legends Ride. Fritz has attended the Sturgis Rally for the last thirty-one years.
“I don’t get a chance to keep up on all the latest technology on motorcycles and stuff so what I do is I come out here and I’m able to see all the new latest, greatest designs and the new little gizmos and stuff,” says Fritz.
Although Fritz has been coming to the Sturgis Rally for decades, he says this is the first Legends Ride he has taken part in.
“Ah, you know, anytime I can get involved in charity events or try to stuff for other people at times, it’s part of it, it’s all about giving back,” says Fritz.
Organizers say participants are giving back. They say proceeds from past Legends Rides have helped the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame and some of the money has helped pay for a new bus to transport children from the Black Hills Special Olympics to athletic competitions.
Golden Globe nominee R. Lee “Gunney” Ermey who played Sergeant Hartman in the movie Full Metal Jacket is also taking part in the charity ride. He says the new bus allows special needs children to get out and have some fun.
“They need help. They need our help and we need to get them some fun in life. You know, rather than staying home all the time and not really getting out as much as they should – we need to make it so they can come out and compete in these Olympics - and they love doing it – they get so involved, they’re more motivated than anybody you can imagine, I gotta tell you. They have more fun,” says Ermey.
Organizers of the Legends Ride say the charity event has raised more than $325,000 since it began in 2008. The Legends Ride begins in Deadwood and ends at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis.