Father and Daughter Ride the 2024 Challenge

In 2010 Alex Sweeney (Rider #88) rode the Hoka Hey Challenge. This year, Alex returns with his daughter Alexandria (Rider #1236) and they will ride together as a Father-Daughter team for the charitable benefit of the Haven House in Homer Alaska where they live. The Haven House provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to homeless children and families. Please consider donating to The Haven House.   Alexandria also rides to honor her late friend, Tia Erica Walli, who was an Organ donor, and to raise awareness of the life-saving gifts you can potentially give when you become a Registered  Donor.

Meet The New Rider # 1124 Paul Tong

 My name is Paul Tong and I was born and raised in Irving, TX. I went to Texas A&M University where I was a member of the Corps of Cadets. I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served 13 years with several overseas deployments during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. After active duty, I joined the Irving Police Department where I have served as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics
investigator, detective sergeant for the domestic violence and child abuse unit, sergeant for the mental
health response unit, and currently serve as a motors sergeant and commercial vehicle enforcement
sergeant. I have known my wife, Tara, since 1994 and we have been married since 2001. We have 3
children, Noelle, Te’a, and Elijah. Noelle is a Navy scholarship cadet at the Virginia Military  Institute and Te’a and Elijah are in high school in Frisco, TX, where we currently reside. 

I bought my first motorcycle in 2011 and have accumulated hundreds of thousands of riding miles since then. I am member of the Iron Butt Association and have been a finisher in the 2015 and 2017 Iron Butt Rallies. I am the rallymaster for the Heart of Texas Rally and the LDX Rally. Brotherhood and family are important; they are the physical and emotional buffers for many things that happen in our lives. Family is there for you in good and bad times and can often be a comforting hand and in some cases, a restraining hand. A person can still be an individual, can be their own person, but can still be a part of something bigger than themselves. I have been a part of several families: my A&M Cadet Corps family, my Marine Corps family, my police family, and my motorcycle family. I know the Hoka Hey community is just another family of like-minded individuals. Many are veterans and all love a lifestyle which is heavily centered around motorcycles. We discover much about ourselves, our purpose in the world, and what path in life we should follow by experiencing the trials and challenges we face in life. The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is a wonderful and very unique example of a physical and spiritual challenge encompassed by a large family of like-minded people that support and celebrate each other’s journeys. I want to ride in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge because I want to experience the personal challenge of the ride, to discover more about myself, and to be a part of another family of people who love motorcycles like me.

There are two non-profits very close to my heart who I will be supporting equally. The first is the Irving
Police and Fire Blue Christmas Program. For over 40 years, thousands of families in need have received a Merry Christmas from Blue Christmas in the form of toys and groceries. Donations help maintain
operations, provide needed supplies, and purchase food items to help families during the Christmas
holidays who already suffer from food insecurity. 

 The second is Many Helping Hands, a homeless outreach group who provides Irving’s homeless with clothing, hygiene items, food, fellowship, and prayer. Donations help support services to include haircuts, counseling, medical visits, employment search assistance, and rehousing assistance. I have volunteered countless hours with both organizations over the decade and believe in their missions and the hope they provide for our community.

Meet The New Rider # 1221 Scott Hudy

Rider # 1221 out of Kimball, Michigan.
Husband/father of Three. . I live my life by a few simple values: Fairness, Respect, Integrity. “Old school “some might say!

This will be my first Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. None of which would have been possible if it weren’t for a good friend Tom Snowden , so thank you Sir. The most difficult for me is trying to put into words the why, why take on this Challenge? We all have our reasons but my #1 reason is because I believe in the cause. I believe we, as men and women owe it to ourselves to challenge ourselves past boundaries we never thought possible. To experience life!! Hoka Hey my fellow Brothers and Sisters. 

Meet The Rider # 908 Detta Dean

As the sun crests the horizon in Key West, the hush of morning is shattered by the roar of many motorcycles beginning an epic journey to Alaska.  The event is the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.  It is a test of skill, endurance, and mental toughness.  One of the riders is a female Harley enthusiast of Native American heritage.  I am that lady.  My name is Detta Dean.  I’m #908.  This is part of my backstory.

 

 

It all started with a class on how to ride and fast forward 20 years while ride a group ride to "wounded knee I saw two riders with the Hoka Hey patches. I approached them asking all about what that was and have been stalking riders ever since. 

 

  My father rode and built award winning show bikes all Harley Davidson motorcycles and my sister works for Harley Davidson so its in my dna.  I used to ride a Dyna, but now have a road glide.  Six years ago I entered the challenge but did not finish.  This time I will cross the finish line.  Partly because of the support from friends like Junie Rose who has been very influential in this undertaking.  

I ride to support the Michael J Fox Foundation and its quest to defeat Parkinson’s Disease.  And also because I seem to be often “chasing rainbows.”

 

My previous failure still haunts me.  This ride will end in victory for me, my friends, and my support for the MJF foundation.  I ride with the slogan “Live Urgently”, and I certainly will be.  Ride safely and skillfully my friends. ….Dyna Detta.

Meet The Rider # 628 Larry Murray

 It was in a tent in Afghanistan when I first read about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. At first I didn’t understand and thought it was a guided tour through 48 States (2011). Due to shipping issues and a dead battery, I got my new RGU the night before we started in Mesa AZ and put 4 miles on it before parking it back in my garage in GA with 17,200 miles on it 21 days later.

 

Jim told us at the Rider’s briefing that this ride would change your life. I didn’t know Jim and thought to
myself yeah, whatever, I just want to feel that freedom and wind in my hair! But Jim was right, the ride
did make an impact on my life and took a burden from me that I was carrying that wasn’t mine to carry.
Three days after I got back to GA, I was waking up in the tent in Afghanistan wondering what the hell had
just happened…as my memories of the ride came flooding back to me, I jotted them down to share with
my sons and friends, at the end I ended up putting a book together.

2013, I did the HHMC again. This time with a great friend made during my 2011 ride. Even though I DQ’d myself the second day- missing Needles Highway, my goal was not for high finishing, but rather again to experience the adventure with a like-minded friend on a challenge only this ride provides.

 

Here I am one last time. I have been blessed to ride in 49 States with Alaska the last on my list. It has
been a struggle to make the decision to do the ride this year. I jealously guard my time off to spend with
my wife, friends and family. This time feels selfish, but I know I would regret it if I didn’t ride, and I try to
live my life with no regrets.

 

This ride will hopefully benefit the Black Hills National Cemetery with Wreaths Across America. There
are approximately 22,000 grave sites at this cemetery alone. For just $17 one can sponsor a wreath at
https://wreathsacrossamerica.org you can then choose the National Cemetery you would like your
wreath to be placed. I am requesting we focus on the Black Hills Cemetery located in Sturgis, SD. The
code for this on the WAA website is SDBLNS. This year Saturday, December 14th will be the day across the US that wreaths are put out. If you have the time, it is a worthwhile endeavor to pay homage to our
Veterans.

See you in Daytona, the DeadMan rides again!

Meet The Rider # 1066 Andrea Tooley

 Hello my name is Andrea Tooley #1066, most call me Tooley. Born and raised in Oregon I'm 48 years old. I have 2 kids Nick is 22 years old and Adelynn is 10. I have lived on the coast for the last 24 years with Patrick. I grew up as a tomboy getting dirty and always wanting to do what my older brother Craig Tooley #1156 did. 

 

This will be my second attempt at Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.  I wrecked just south of Hatch, NM (2022) late at night after a rain storm/monsoon blew through and I hit thick mud that had onion bits in it. Wade was done for after doing somersault in the ditch. I truly didn't know what I would get out of riding the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. 

 

 When I first heard about it was from my mom, Valerie  Stewart #985 had been talking about doing this Challenge for years. She finally rode in Aug 2020, I was so excited for her and couldn't wait to watch her on the tracker and cheer her on. We were on our way to the finish line to see her cross when we got the call that we needed to pick her up in Poughkeepsie, AR. After we loaded her bike on the trailer and she hopped in the truck. I swear the first words out of her mouth were I will be riding in 2022. Just to see the pure joy coming off my mom after wrecking and all beat up. I was like ok, then I'm riding with you or Craig and I will be riding with you. So I couldn't wait to put in that following Feb 2021. 

 

Again I truly didn't know what to expect, I have told my mom that this has been one of the best experiences I have had. The friends that are more like family that I made. To get to ride on my motorcycle and see this beautiful country. To push myself to the limit but still wake up with a smile on my face ready to go again. 

 

 All the while riding for a charity that is so near and dear to my heart. Mile Monsters Inc. Riding for these boys who have DMD, a muscle wasting disease has been truly eye opening and warms my soul. What these boys go through on a day to day bases is heart wrenching,  but being just a little part of making them smile is so worth it. Again these boys, their family and the riders I ride along side are my Family!!! Can't wait to see y'all in Daytona.  
Hoka Hey
Tooley #1066

Meet The Rider # 1025 Craig Watters

 I am returning rider Craig Watters #1025 from Chatham, Ontario, Canada. 

 

This will be my second Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, my first being in 2022. It’s a privilege to ride among so many great riders and to be part of this Hoka Hey family. I am blessed to have such a supportive group of friends and family in which I am able participate again this year. 

One thing I can attest to after riding in the HHMC is to Ride Your Own Ride! Everyone has different riding abilities and you do not want to be responsible for pushing someone beyond their limits as do you want to be pushed by someone beyond your limits. This ride will test you Mentally, Physically and Emotionally. You will be a different person after this ride.  

 

Take it all in ….. you will understand the HH Mission when you cross that finish line.
Enrich Empower Unite  
Good Luck Everyone I will see you in Daytona!