GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — For over 20 years, Kyle Petty has been putting on The Kyle Petty Charity Ride that travels across America.
Now, it is Michigan’s turn to host it.
Kyle says this isn’t the first time they have come to the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa for the charity ride, and many riders said they would like to come back.
The charity ride itself started 29 years ago, after Kyle and a few friends decided they wanted to ride for charity. Everything changed, however, when Kyle’s oldest son died.
“In 2000, my oldest son, Adam, was killed in a racing accident,” Kyle said. “We decided we’d build a camp in North Carolina for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses called Victory Junction. It’s part of Paul Newman’s SeriousFun Group of camps.”
Since then, the charity has worked exclusively to send over 136,000 kids to the camp.
Of the over 150 riders starting in Michigan, only less than a dozen are actually from the area.
Kyle adds that riders are always welcome to join along the way, and can visit their website if they are interested in joining.