From Shovelheads to Springers and Big Dogs, from Gold Wings to Busa’s and
GSXR’s — we took 'em all! The first ever Flint Hills Freedom Run motorcycle rally rolled through with a roar on Saturday,
July 22nd, 2006 and was without a doubt one of the region’s premiere bike event.



Taking place in scenic downtown Wamego, Kansas, the day was packed with events, food, and music for the biker and non-biker alike. Organizers T2 Wireless, along with Sponsors 101.5 KRock, Capital Distributing, City Cycle Sales, and American Family Insurance, expected attendance in the hundreds – and were not disappointed! More than 700 bikes took part in the 130-mile poker run through the scenic Flint Hills. After simultaneously firing up into a raging thunder, the bikes headed out of Wamego and stretched out for more than 12 miles! Hundreds more turned out to enjoy the beautiful weather and the 40 X 60 foot American flag flying high over Lincoln Street

The goal of the event was to raise an insane amount of money and awareness for the Fort Riley-Central Kansas Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Wounded Soldiers Fund (WSF), a non-profit, charitable fund established in 2003 to provide financial assistance for the benefit of financially challenged severely wounded/injured soldiers both in time of war and peace. The event was a huge success, raising more than $20,000 for this very worthy cause. read more>>




The 2007 ride will take place on July 13th - 14th 2007 – check back soon for more details!



The Benefit

The Fort Riley AUSA Wounded Soldiers Fund is a non-profit, charitable fund established in 2003 to provide financial assistance for the benefit of financially challenged severely wounded/injured soldiers both in time of war and peace.

Following a December 2003 executive meeting of the local Fort Riley-Central Kansas AUSA chapter, the President Brian E. Wells, CSM USA (ret), asked the Ft. Riley Chief of Staff the same question he had asked many times before, “…is there anything you guys need?” This time, the answer was much different. An injured soldier lying in a hospital bed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center had unfortunately become a victim of bureaucratic pitfalls and had gone 45 days without receiving any pay. To make matters worse, his young wife was expecting their fourth child in a matter of weeks and the household bills were getting out of hand. That very night the executive committee members and concerned individuals from the community gave generously from their own pockets to help this family in need.

As the local AUSA chapter investigated the situation over the following days and weeks, they learned that lapses in pay for injured soldiers occurred frequently. Why? The time lag caused by bureaucratic procedures associated with transferring responsibility for injured soldiers’ pay and benefits from active duty military to the veteran’s administration. With the support of several local banks and business owners, the Wounded Soldiers Fund was founded. In addition to helping with a host of incidental household expenses, WSF funds help defray travel expenses allowing loved ones to visit wounded soldiers. To date the fund is supported by more than 160 local businesses and has granted over $90,000 to nearly 90 different families.



The Setting

Wamego, Kansas—a growing community of over 4,000 nestled along the fertile banks of the Kansas River—is located 15 miles east of Manhattan, or about 40 miles west of Topeka, on Highway 24. Wamego is a short two hour ride from several metro areas, including Kansas City, Wichita, and Lincoln (NE).

History surrounds Wamego with reminders of the past on the Oregon Trail, and throughout the community in its beautifully restored homes and businesses. Kansas' only operating stone windmill towers above the Dutch Mill Museum Complex in beautiful Wamego City Park. The Columbian Theatre, Museum and Art Center is a renovated 19th Century opera house which exhibits six rare paintings and other artifacts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The Oz Museum features one of the largest privately owned collections of Oz memorabilia in the world.

Oregon Trail followers can walk along actual ruts left more than 150 years ago by westbound pioneers, and visit the historic Louis Vieux Cemetery near the banks of the Vermillion River where Louis Vieux, a Pottawatomie Indian, once operated the first ferry crossing along the Oregon Trail.

Recreation in Wamego includes a beautiful eighteen-hole golf course, Olympic-size swimming pool, public tennis courts, baseball and softball parks, horseshoe pits and a frisbee golf course. Nearby federal reservoirs and state lakes offer excellent respite for the avid angler.

For more information, check out www.visitwamego.com.