By Pete Wurdock
This Friday, hundreds of riders will trek from Hell, Mich. to Paradise, Mich in an event presented by the American Legion Riders. The aptly named Hell to Paradise PTSD Awareness Ride will draw attention to and raise money for post traumatic stress disorder, a condition that many Veterans are dealing with. The event is in its first year.
Trip organizer Scott Igo said he’s had this idea for a long time, and with the help of many people, managed to execute it.
“My goal when I got this in motion was to have 100 riders,” Igo said. “At 450 registered, this has already exceeded my expectations and we’ve gone nationwide. There are riders converging on Michigan from 10 states and counting, all finding their way to Michigan.”
The trip is $35 for a ride and $20 for a passenger, including all kinds of motor vehicles.
“We are allowing anyone to join us and ride or drive,” Igo said.
Igo is thrilled about getting more people involved and raising money for PTSD, and wants Veterans with PTSD to have access and a connection with someone who can talk them through episodes.
“There are Veterans who need someone to reach out and connect with them during their dark times.”
Having that 2 a.m. phone call answered can be the exact lifeline they need.
There are two routes for the event. The namesake route is from Hell, Michigan to Paradise, just shy of 350 miles. The second route sends riders across the Upper Peninsula, starting in Ironwood, stopping in Gladstone Friday night, then heading to Newberry, where the two groups will merge and continue on to Paradise.
Jenny Northrup is the official event photographer and is participating in the ride.
“I personally suffer from C-PTSD (complex PTSD) so this ride is personal and I hope to get the word out about it through the photobooks I am creating,” Northrup said. “We have many strangers out there that have our backs and are there for us. That’s such a huge thing!”
This event is organized through the work of volunteers with tee shirts, patches, and other memorabilia being sent out daily. The group will gather early in the morning at the Hell Saloon and traverse the first leg to Gaylord where they will spend the night. The overnight stop is being hosted in Gaylord by Zips Harley Davidson and The Landing Zone Bowling Alley. The group departs the next morning and continues north.
Newberry Commander Leo St. Germain was a Legion Rider at Post 3 in Sault Ste Marie and formed the Newberry Rider’s Chapter 74 last year, which is a new charter group within the Newberry Legion.
He has played a significant role in organizing the stop in Newberry for the riders. He and other members of Chapter 74 will welcome the group when they arrive in Newberry, where participants will stop for lunch at the Legion hall from 11-1:30 before heading to Paradise. Later that evening Newberry Post will host an “Open Bike Night” for those who would like to come back. Music by “No BS” will be featured. The event begins at 7 PM, and is free and open to the public.
“We are donating our proceeds from lunch sales to the Wilwin Lodge, in Custer, Mich., which is a veteran’s retreat,” St. Germain said. “Wilwin Lodge at Cygnet Cove is a haven for veterans seeking solace and healing. They are supported by the Legion Department of Michigan and have a retreat center where any veteran can go free of charge.”
After lunch in Newberry it is on to Paradise for more festivities and food. The organizers have partnered with several organizations who will benefit monetarily from this event. They include Zeroduck 30, Bikes and Battle Buddies, Mission Six Service Dogs for Veterans, all of which support Veteran services and PTSD treatments
