Oklahoma Biker - The Riders Ragazine Vol 14 Issue 3 | Page 18

Women’s Freedom Rally 2019 Topeka, KS will be the host city to over 1,200 women on motorcycles on June 13-15 as they converge from across the USA. Riding to raise funds for veterans while celebrating women riders and their freedoms, these ladies will be gathering to break the world record for largest number of women to ride togeth- er in one ride. This record is currently held by a group of ladies in the United Kingdom and the Women’s Freedom Ride participants are ready to bring this ride home to America. “Topeka, KS was chosen as the location for this record attempt because it’s in the middle of the United States and will allow for more women to partici- pate due to the proximity of the riders,” stated Karen Collins, Rally Director and Founder of Women’s Freedom Ride. Ms. Collins has been organizing Na- tional women’s motorcycle rides since 2010. In 2018, she and a group of wom- en riders accomplished a twenty-three state tour last year within eighteen days. They raised over $30,000 in 2018 putting the funds to good use by donating to the medical expenses of a wounded woman soldier who received a prosthetic arm, as well as, sent five disabled veterans and their caregivers on a retreat. Collins expanded on the donations saying, “The caregivers need a break too. We donate funds for veterans for equipment they need and medical expenses, but for the veterans’ oklahoma biker the riders ragazine caregivers, we donate trips that are much needed to rest and rejuvenate.” This year the annual ride has changed by adding eight locations from which over 300 women have chosen to take part in organized, guided rides the week prior to the rally. These rides will be converging in Topeka, KS. They will begin in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana. Others will ride in at their own pace from around the country. The rally headquarters will be located at Ramada Inn Topeka, 420 W 6th Street. At this location rally goers will enjoy vendors, meet and greets, dinner banquet with speakers including famed motorcyclist Gloria Struck, Ride to the Rally Group Ride arrivals, camaraderie and a final celebration on Saturday night with band and party. Heartland Motorsports Park will host the over 1200 riders on Saturday morning with con- cessions, live music and more as they line up and complete two laps on the road course track which will allow them to break the world record. From there, riders are encouraged to join the post ride party at Historical Harley-Davidson complete with a band, food trucks and festivities. Saturday night, everyone is welcome to join the final rally party and dance at the Ramada Inn. A band will be provid- ing great tunes for everyone to enjoy as they exchange numbers to arrange for miles of rides together in the future with their newfound riding friends from across the United States. Interested persons may locate more information about the rally at www.womensfreedom- ride.org or on Facebook. 18