Published: July 17, 2008 09:12 pm            

Full-throttle for charity:

RICH CREEK, Va. — Alex Bennett is just like any other child. The 7-year-old is a sports fan and loves anything that moves fast.

NASCAR driver Kyle Petty moves fast, whether in a race car or on a motorcycle.

“This is a very big moment for him,” said Bennett’s mother, Kelly, a resident of Rich Creek. “Actually he doesn’t really have a (NASCAR) favorite yet, he hasn’t gotten that far, but he thinks he can do in his wheelchair what you can do in any other vehicle.”

Alex, who is confined to a wheelchair after being born with Spina Bifida, gathered with numerous other NASCAR fans at a Shell station in Rich Creek to welcome Petty and more than 150 other motorcylists to Giles County on Thursday morning.

“I did enjoy it,” Kelly Bennett said. “It’s a nice event for Rich Creek.”

The riders, who were part of the 14th annual Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, made a pit stop to refuel their Harley Davidson motorcycles. After a 30-minute break, they returned to the road to continue the fourth day of a seven-day, 3,000 mile trek that will take them from Traverse City, Mich., to Savannah, Ga.

“It’s fun, man, this is a good crowd,” said Petty, who was joined by NASCAR’s Harry Gant and Steve Park, and former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star Hershel Walker. “We were up at the Greenbrier last night in White Sulphur Springs and we had a great crowd up there and then every city we have come to on down the road.

“It’s been incredible. When you stop like this, it’s pretty cool.”

Alex was the recipient of an autograph from Petty, who signed his stuffed Chick-fil-A cow. His hope is to attend the Petty-founded Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C., an 84-acre complex that provides a summer camp for children with chronic medical conditions and illnesses.

“He was excited about coming here because he wants to go to that camp one day,” said Bennett, whose 10-year-old son Chandler also received an autograph. “He just loves racing and sports. He likes watching things and he thinks he can do anything.”

It was that concern for children that brought about the establishment of the 53-building NASCAR-themed facility that provides everything from an fully staffed medical center (Goody’s Body Shop), an equestrian center (Jessie’s Horse Power Garage) and the Hendrick Fuel Shop dining hall.

Since the establishment of the Charity Ride, more than $10.5 million has been raised, with more than 5,700 participants logging more than 7.2 million miles. This year’s event started on July 13 and will end Sunday in Georgia.

“The camps have been really good, we’ve got the one in North Carolina and we’re trying to build one in Kansas,” said Petty, the driver of the No. 45 Wells Fargo Dodge Charger on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit. “It’s just one of those deals where we have just been very, very blessed with so many people that are interested in it and want to help out.

“It’s like all these people here, they just want to help.”

The Charity Ride began 14 years ago when a few friends decided to take a trek on motorcycles from North Carolina to Phoenix. Yet, this wasn’t just a joy ride.

“It was just a bunch of us wanted to ride motorcycles cross-country and we decided we would do it to raise funds for children’s hospitals,” said Petty, whose son, Adam, was killed while practicing for a Busch race in 2000 in New Hampshire. “For the first few years that’s what we did until our son was killed.

“After Adam was killed and we decided to build a camp, we kind of changed the focus around to raise money for the camps and that’s what it’s been ever since.”

Over the years, the Charity Ride has picked up numerous sponsors, including seven-year participant Chick-fil-A. Dan Cathey, the president of Chick-fil-A, was along for the ride on his Harley, complete with the same pattern as the company’s trademark Chick-fil-A cow.

“Chick-fil-A has a corporate purpose to glorify God, to being a faithful steward to all that is entrusted to us and have a positive influence in all that come in contact with Chick-fil-A,” Cathey said. “I’m a second generation of a family business and Kyle is a third generation of his business.

“The thing that binds us together and brings us together is our faith in God, but particularly our love for young people and our concern for our children... It’s a great thing, it gives us a chance to make a big difference in what they are going out there.”

While the arrival of Petty and friends was a big attraction in this small town, it meant a lot more to the riders themselves.

“It’s a thrill for us and our riders,” said Petty, whose trip Thursday ended in Charlotte, N.C. “We’re trying to raise funds for the camp and it shows how many people care about the camp, and care about what these guys do.

“All these people that you see in the (camp) shirts today, they’re the ones that are out trying to raise money. That’s what it’s all about.”

Petty figures this venture will continue far into the future.

“As long as we can keep riding and as long as people keep coming out, we will keep doing this.” Petty said. “As long as they come out and keep supporting the camp, that’s all I care about.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com

        

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