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Riding with Purpose
Back in 1994 , former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and a few of his friends decided to ride from North Carolina to Arizona to attend a stock car race . By the time they arrived at Phoenix International Raceway , their group had grown from four riders to 30 . Inspired by the turn out , Petty turned the cross-country ride into an annual philanthropic event that has taken place every spring for the past 23 years . Since its inception in 1995 , more than 8,000 motorcyclists have participated in the annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America , which has raised more than $ 18 million for Victory Junction and other charities that support chronically ill children . With the route changing every year , the ride has passed through 48 of the 50 states . Here the group is greeted by a bison as it passes through Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming . Photo by Kevin Kane