Glen Dupont to Ride for Autism Speaks
The Three Flags ride is Mexico to the US to Canada or vice versa. Glen Dupont, a long distance rider, and founder and CEO of The Long Riders, wanted to get involved with a charity and eventually connected with Autism Speaks because he resonated with their work. Glen has several family members with autism and his mother was a special needs teacher who worked with autistic children. It was a natural partnership.
According to Autism Speaks, “Autism is a neurological developmental disorder that impacts a person’s ability to communicate and socialize. Individuals with autism often have repetitive behaviors and debilitating medical issues. Approximately 1 in 68 children born in the U.S. will be identified with an autism spectrum disorder, 1 in 42 boys, making autism one of the fastest-growing childhood disorders. Indeed, there has been a ten-fold increase in prevalence over the past 40 years.”
“Autism Speaks is the leading autism research, advocacy and awareness organization in North America. Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks is a registered 501(c) 3 charitable organization, Tax ID #: 20-2329938.”
So Glen connected his love for riding with the need to raise awareness and money for Autism Speaks. For the past six months Glen has been working with the charity as well as motorcycle manufacturers and suppliers to get the project underway and he is scheduled to make his trip the first week of April, 2016.
Glen says, “The ride will be a “Three Flags” ride – In my case this will take me from Tijuana, Mexico to Vancouver B.C., Canada in 24 hours. Total ride distance is 1,382 miles. The average speed over the 24-hour period will be 57.58 MPH, with a moving average of 61.42 MPH. The ride will require five fuel stops and the calculated time for the fuel stops will be 18 minutes.
“After the ride is completed, the bike and I will be doing more media events. At the same time Autism Speaks will have already made arrangements to have the bike and helmet(s) signed by a very lengthy list of celebrities and persons of note.”
“In the first weeks of May 2016, Autism Speaks holds its annual celebrity gala in Los Angeles, CA where, the bike and gear will be front center. During the course of the evening a video of the ride and sponsors will be shown to the 2,000+/- person audience and shortly after that the Motorcycle and autographed helmet will either be auctioned off or raffled off (the exact way the bike and gear will be given away will be determined by Autism Speaks in the coming weeks). All proceeds to benefit Autism Speaks.”
We wish Glen luck and smooth sailing.
Sponsors
- Adaptiv Technologies – radar/laser
- Clearwater Lights
- Garmin GPS
- Held Gloves and Apparel
- KTM – KTM 1290 Super Adventure
- Schuberth Helmets and Bluetooth
- Spot Satellite Messenger
Link to Glen’s GoFundMe
