For the City Times

CENTRAL WISCONSIN – Wisconsin-based charity, “Hogs for Heroes” is now accepting applications from injured Wisconsin veteran riders for their next three Harley-Davidson motorcycles to be gifted May-July.

Having returned 16 veteran riders to the road in a four-year time period, this season’s opportunity marks the 17th, 18th, and 19th bikes Hogs for Heroes will be gifting since it was founded in 2015, far exceeding their goal of one bike per year.

Submissions must be postmarked by March 20. All application materials can be found at www.hogsforheroeswi.org, under the “Application and Selection” tab.

Hogs For Heroes offers “wind therapy” as alternative therapy, and provides a motorcycle as the “life-changing tool.”

“We are working to help those injured Veterans who once had a passion for riding and now find themselves struggling— mentally and physically— and without the means or ability to have a bike in their life,” said Hogs for Heroes President Kevin Thompson. “Getting back on the road has been powerful healing for our sixteen recipients and we encourage Wisconsin veteran riders who have been injured in the course of active duty, and are longing to return to riding, to apply as this program is for them.

“Previous recipients have found great solace being back on a bike and regaining the freedom, camaraderie and peace that motorcycling provides. Just as importantly, recipients have subsequently found new ways to continue serving their community and fellow veterans by getting a motorcycle back in their lives. We encourage people to share this information with friends and family and help us find our next Wisconsin Veterans.”

Hogs for Heroes is a Wisconsin 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to healing the mental and physical wounds suffered by our Wisconsin veterans during the course of active duty, through the “therapeutic benefits” of owning and riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

It was founded in 2015 in Madison, by Kevin and Audra Thompson, along with his brother and sister-in-law Craig and Michelle Thompson, with the belief that there is a long-standing tie between our military, its service members, and the therapeutic benefits of motorcycle riding.

The family nonprofit anticipates giving at least one more bike away later this summer and will open another shorter application period in late May.  Applicants submitting once can be considered for all giftings in 2021.  Fundraising is underway for the next Harley-Davidson for a Wisconsin Veteran and donations can be made online on the Hogs for Heroes website. Hogs For Heroes directs 100 percent of its donations straight toward the next bike and Veteran pairing.

For additional information, contact Thompson 608-575-0808 or [email protected].