Rogers Riders Support NWA Food Bank during National Motorcycle Challenge

Rogers’ business owners, Rick McLeod, Farmers Insurance agent and his brother, Mike McLeod of Mike's Auto Works, are participating in the 2022 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™, a 10,000 mile, multi-state motorcycle ride created to provide participants with an opportunity to test their endurance, patience and skill while facing and overcoming obstacles along the way. While the average number of miles ridden each day is about 750, the event is not a race. Rather it is a challenge where riders must abide by the speed limit and can’t finish in fewer than 240 hours, or 10 days. 

This is Rick’s 3rd time to participate in the event that takes place every other year and Mike’s 2nd time. This year they are raising funds for the NWA Food Bank and have a goal to raise $10,000. “The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is heavily dependent on our community partners," shared Kent Eikenberry, President/CEO at Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. "With every dollar donated, we can provide up to 8 meals," he continued. "Given Rick and Mike’s goal of $10,000, we have the potential of distributing 80,000 meals to our neighbors in need. In addition to the money raised, the exposure of our mission that comes through something like Hoka Hey, is equally important.”

While the Hoka Hey Challenge organization strongly encourages each rider to raise money, it is not required for entry to the event. Even so, most riders do participate in some way. In 2020, the riders raised over $500,000 for charities across the country. Patrons may support the McLeod's ride by 1) making a donation to the NWA Food Bank in the name of the McLeod Brothers Hoka Hey Ride. 2) following them on the Hoka Hey tracker, and liking and following their Facebook Page McLeod Brothers' Hoka Hey Adventure. 

When asked about the support provided to make the ride possible, Rick responded, "Pigtrail Harley Davidson is indeed sponsoring us again this year, and we’re proud to partner with them! They work with us to defray costs associated with preparing the bikes for the event, and provide swag and other items we can use to raise money for the NWA Food Bank," he continued. 

In 2020, the Hoka Hey riders came through Northwest Arkansas with a check point at Pig Trail Harley Davidson in Rogers. Both McLeods had welcome parties for their arrivals. Rick had a little more attention from the local dealer than anticipated when his bike, “Betty,” broke down in Van Horn, Texas and his wife, Naomi, was tasked with purchasing a new bike and the Pig Trail team delivered "Goose" to him allowing him to finish the ride a bit behind his goal, in 13 days.  The 2022 event will begin and end in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The 2022 Hoka Hey Challenge kick-off date is June 26 from Rapid City South Dakota, Additional checkpoints include: Olathe, Kansas; Boise Idaho and Washington, Utah, but the riders don't know the order of each stop. The ride will end in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Finishers are considered an "elite Rider if they finish in 14 days. Among several additional rules to qualify as a "finisher," motorcycles will be limited to 6.2-gallon fuel tanks and may not use any sort of electronic navigation systems, or incur any type of moving violation, including: speeding, failure to signal, improper lane change, etc. 

Organized by the Medicine Show LLC, the Hoka Hey was founded on the Lakota Sioux principal of WOLAKOTA and the event celebrates all that is pure and powerful in the warrior spirit. The theme of this year's ride is "Remember." The Lakota word is “KIKSUYA” which suggests we all have an inherent and ancient memory of community and compassion, respect, harmony, peace and friendship.

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