Race car legend Kyle Petty and his ‘Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America’ will start their 25th anniversary ride – their longest ever! – in Kent at Manheim Seattle on Friday, May 3.

Mayor Dana Ralph will be there to greet the riders the morning of Friday, May 3.

All are invited to join in at 6:45 a.m. that morning.

Here’s more info about this fundraiser:

Twenty-five years ago, NASCAR driver Kyle Petty combined his passion for helping others with his love of motorcycles to create the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. One of the most successful and popular charity events in the country, the annual motorcycle trek engages celebrities, Ride sponsors, motorcycle enthusiasts, fans and local communities to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction. Since 1995, more than 8,400 riders have logged more than 12 million cumulative motorcycle miles and raised $18.5 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities.

The inspiration for the Ride came in 1994, when Petty and three friends rode their motorcycles from North Carolina to a NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway. Friends joined the ride along the way, and by the time the group reached Phoenix, it had grown to 30 riders. The turnout inspired Petty, and he decided to nurture the event into something bigger; The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America was born.

Since its inception by Kyle in 2004 in honor of his late son Adam, Victory Junction has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary. Located on 84 acres in Randleman, North Carolina, Victory Junction exists to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses by creating camping experiences that are memorable, fun, empowering, physically safe and medically sound.

Fans and spectators along the Charity Ride route may contribute to the Charity Ride’s “Small Change. Big Impact.” program, which accepts donations at local stops.

Here’s the route Petty will be taking:

#1 Seattle (Renton), WA to Manheim Seattle – 9.0 miles:

Exit Hotel parking garage left 0.2 mi
RT. at lt. onto Lake Washington Blvd. N. 0.1 mi
Left at lt. onto Southport Dr. 0.2 mi
RT. at lt. onto I-405 S: Tacoma2.8 mi
Veer RT. to Exits 2 A/B, Keep left for WA-167 S: Auburn 0.3 mi
Merge onto WA-167 S 3.6 mi
Veer RT. to S. 212th St. exit 0.2 mi
RT. at lt. onto S. 212th S. (to Manheim Seattle at 19711 77th Ave S. in Kent)

More info here: http://kylepettycharityride.com/

Want to know the exact roads we’re taking on our 25th Anniversary #KPCharityRide?! Find out where you can wave us on along the way! #KPCR25

Click the following link to view our turn-by-turn route: https://t.co/IOtwaIU3se pic.twitter.com/cboDbZS9Yf

— KylePettyCharityRide (@KPCharityRide) April 8, 2019