Bike Tours for the Wounded has worked with veterans for over 7 years and to date they have supported over 300 veterans, each with their own reasons for going on the Wounded Warrior Challenge tour and each one as worthy as the next.

They support veterans with both physical and mental injuires. Just because the injuries are mental doesn't mean that they aren't as damaging as amputations or other physical injuries. Those with PTSD, stress, depression have different struggles to those with physical injuries but they are just as important and just as worthy of support.

The Veterans Association passed on my details to Bekkie at BTFTW , and said I qualify as one of their beneficiaries and have therefore invited me to join them on a tour end of Aug in the USA.

What they do? They take a group of twelve veterans on a ten-day trip to America, pair everyone up with a rider and share the journey from A-B. It really is as simple as that! Together they travel through some of the most breath-taking landscapes and visit some of the iconic landmarks and attractions. These trips gives everyone an opportunity to get some head space, make new friends, have a laugh with like minded people and overall gives everyone something to look forward to.

What tours do they offer and where do they go? Best of Route 66 Challenge Check out where you go here - https://biketoursforthewounded.co.uk/challenges/best-route-66-challenge

and

Wild West Challenge (which I have chosen) Check out where you go here - https://biketoursforthewounded.co.uk/challenges/wild-west-challenge

What date is the tour? The dates of the tour are:

The Wild West: 30th August - 11th September 2019

What does the tour cost 1 pillion rider? The total cost of the tour itself is £1,795 – some of which is funded through their fundraising efforts and won’t cost the pillion rider as much, this includes all accommodation, travel, fuel, food and attractions.

The costs that must be covered by pillion rider is as follows:

1. Return flight from Manchester to Las Vegas - We fly as a group with Virgin Atlantic

2. Travel insurance - this needs to cover riding pillion on a motorcycle up to 1633cc

3. ESTA Visa Wavier

4. Travel to and from Manchester before and after the tour.

5. Spending money.

6. An open faced helmet and sunglasses

All of which together would be an impossible task for most veterans to raise alone so am looking to my fellow family of veterans and friends to help me raise funds for this once in a lifetime trip.

What if I need a break from the bike whilst on tour? They take two support vehicles with them, that follow us at all times. One carries all the luggage and the second is available if at any point I feel I need a rest.

How big are the group sizes?

No more than about 12 bikes per tour, this allows us to stay in the smaller bespoke hotels so that everyone gets the most authentic experience.

Please have a look at the following Youtube video from their 2017 Wild West Tour which should give you a little more insight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDECIeYTzVY

with deep appreciation to you all.

Suzanne x