THEN:

Two years ago, I began my support of Fisher House with the "8 Ball Ride". I rode my Harley to the lower 48 state capitals in 48 days. I left Washington, DC on May 28th, 2018 and completed the 14,000+ mile ride on July 14th, 2018, my 80th birthday, in Albany, NY.

NOW:​

Once again, starting on or about April 15th, 2021, I'll be on my bike for a 15,000+ mile ride, this time to visit at least  57 operating Fisher House residences in the lower 48 states and Alaska. I intend to continue doing events like this, with the support of family and friends, until our goal of raising $250,000 is reached or the wheels come off, which ever happens first.

The 8 Ball Ride is a motorcycle tour by Bob The Geezer biker", on behalf of the Fisher House Foundation, that will commence on Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, in Washington DC and tour the 48 state capitals and end 48 days and 14,000 miles later on July 14th, his 80th birthday. Our goal, during the seven weeks of the event, is to raise awareness in the general public about the Fisher House Foundation's charitable work and generate lots of donations, enabling them to continue their work.

Back in September 2017, two months after his 79th birthday, his wife Ilana asked him what he would like to do for his 80th birthday. They talked about it for a while and decided that it would be fun to take an extended motorcycle ride. This ride would be like many of his past long-distance rides, but different because this ride will be for the benefit of the Fisher House Foundation, one of America's most highly rated charities, having received a four star rating from Charity Navigator 13 years in a row and an A rating from CharityWatch/American Institute of Philanthropy.

This wonderful country of ours, the United States of America, made it possible for a guy like him, growing up in modest circumstances to have a successful happy life beyond all his expectations. Now in the autumn of his life, it's time to pay back. So why did he choose the Fisher House Foundation as the benefactor of the 8 Ball Ride event, given that there are so many other worthy causes? If you think about it, the men and women in our Armed Forces have been involved in every major international conflict in our nation's history. Without them, this country would be a very different place. Perhaps, a place where his life would have been very different. These men and women, who forgo much of what we consider traditional family life, deserve our fullest emotional and monetary support. They are separated from their families during extended deployments. Many of those deployments are in harm's way. Being in harm's way often results in being seriously wounded, which in turn requires major medical treatment and extended periods of rehabilitation. Without the assistance of the Fisher House Foundation, many of these wounded service people, especially those with limited resources, would, yet again, experience many months even years of separation from their families while being treated. The Fisher House Foundation, through its "Fisher House" program, provides living accommodations for the families of wounded service people and veterans. Currently, there are 75 Fisher houses located on 24 military bases and 31 VA medical centers. Many more are being built, are being planned and are needed to serve those in need.

So please donate, get your family and friends to donate and don't be bashfull, donate often, by the mile would be just fine. You will feel so much better after each donation, knowing that you have helped a deserving service family.

For more information about the "8 Ball Ride" please visit www.8ballride.com