Petty Charity Ride Across America registration begins

The 16th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is challenging community members along the 2010 Ride route to take part in a grassroots awareness and fundraising effort. The funds raised through the Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge will support Victory Junction, a year-round camp for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses and other children’s charities. Teams are encouraged to register at www.kylepettycharityride.com/dream_team.

Led by NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the Ride will depart Indian Wells, Calif., on May 1, and travel east, making overnight stops in North Las Vegas, Nev.; Richfield, Utah; Durango, Colo.; Amarillo, Texas; Texarkana, Texas; Choctaw, Miss.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Asheville, N.C.; before reaching Victory Junction on May 9. Prior to the Ride’s arrival in these cities, community members are invited to form “Dream Teams" to raise funds for and awareness of the Ride and its beneficiaries. Dream Teams will be invited to present donations to Kyle Petty and Ride participants at special events along the Ride route.

“Communities are encouraged to spread the word about the Ride prior to our arrival and assist us in getting these Dream Teams excited about helping kids," said Petty. “The funds collected will go towards providing life-changing opportunities for deserving children and their families. Every little bit helps. It’s all about making a difference in a kids’ life."

In 2009, donations from The Dream Team Challenge totaled more than $10,000.

Teams of all ages and sizes are welcome to participate in the Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge and may register on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Web site. Registration is free. Registered teams will receive “Dream Team Packs" containing background information on the Charity Ride and Victory Junction, as well as ongoing updates and fundraising tips.

Fundraising efforts should begin after a team has selected a captain and team members have reviewed the information in the Dream Team Pack. Then, the sky is the limit! From bake sales and lemonade stands to black-tie galas and silent auctions, teams should choose fundraising activities that align with individual members’ interests and strengths.

Teams from around the country are encouraged to participate, and those along the Ride route may join riders at pre-determined stops. Collected donations should be mailed to Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc., 125 Floyd Smith Drive, Suite 45, Charlotte, NC 28262. Checks should be made payable to “Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc."

Since Victory Junction’s inception, the Charity Ride has sent more than 7,000 children to the life-changing camp at no cost to their families. Petty and his wife, Pattie, founded Victory Junction in Randleman, N.C., in 2004. The year-round camp serves children, ages six to 16, with a variety of health issues that would typically prevent them from attending camp. The camp operates solely on the donations of corporations, organizations and individuals.

For more information on the Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge and the 16th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, visit www.kylepettycharityride.com. Fans are also encouraged to become a fan via Facebook (Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America and Kyle Petty) and follow us on Twitter at (@kpcharityride and @kylepetty).