Meet The New Rider # 1262 Dean Burgess

 

My name is Dean Burgess, 65 years old, rider #1262. I retired from the US Army in 2003 after 20 years of service and currently work as an IT consultant for USPS. I live in Sanford, NC with my beautiful wife, Paige. I have been riding motorcycles for over 2 decades and was hooked the first time I rode. I was introduced to the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge by a friend of mine Bill Morris. I have been to the Sturgis Rally twice, been to Rolling Thunder in Washington, DC, a few times, completed a couple IBA rides, and ridden thousands of miles attending hundreds of events with the Patriot Guard Riders.

 

When Bill first told me about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, I went down the rabbit hole researching the event. I was hooked. I told Bill we have to do this. I look forward to all the things that make this a challenge. In October 2025, Bill and I even rode up to Wookstock HD just to say "Hi" and check the area out. I look forward to the freedom of the ride and unknown challenges we will face.

 

The non-profit I will be riding for in the HHMC 2026 is the Life Springs Dream Center. The Dream Center serves as a resource center focused on providing support to those affected by homelessness, hunger, and the lack of education through residential and community outreach programs. Their proven three-pronged approach to preventing Human Trafficking is comprised of Hotel Outreach, Jail Outreach and Community Outreach. This approach has helped the LSDC lead women out of human trafficking since May of 2021.
https://www.lifespringsdreamcenter.org

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1309 Cameron Harbison

 

My name is Cameron Harbison, rider #1309. I am 67 years old. I am a retired Combat Veteran. I served in the Marine Corps and the Army with 32 years combined active service. I was born in Queens New York. My wife Vicki #1308 will also be riding in the 2026 HHC. I have been riding for over 50 years and ride about 30,000 miles a year supporting Veterans causes up and down the East Coast as a Member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association®

 

 I look forward to my first  Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2026. I heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge on social media. Personally, the HHMC represents the ride of a lifetime plus the opportunity to face challenges and adversity. For me, the challenge is not about finishing first or last, it is about the journey. I ride because I love the freedom of the open road, the solitude, meeting new people and hearing their stories.

 

My charity is raising money for Feed More, Inc. (https://feedmore.org). Feed More collects, prepares, and distributes over 35 million meals to over 200,000 hungry neighbors, 1 and 6 are children, living in our 34 Central Virginia city and county service area. Your gifts help support our comprehensive healthy food programs including Meals on Wheels, Kids Cafe, BackPacks, our Distribution Center, Senior Nutrition and Healthy Food Initiative efforts. 

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1308 Vickie Harbison

 

Vicki Harbison #1308 -I am excited to participate in the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. I am an adventurous person and have been riding motorcycles on and off for over 50 years. I am driven and have a strong commitment to completing a challenge and over the years have done so in several passions I have had in my life. I am also excited because my husband and I are doing this challenge together. What an adventure we will have to share and talk about for years to come. 

 

I believe in the spirit and what the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge was organized for: charity and challenging a person’s skills, physical/mental capabilities and endurance. I look forward to the opportunities it offers such as the sportsmanship, the ability to travel the different communities, meet people from all walks of life and the challenge from within myself. 

 

I have chosen the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Jimmy Fund in the name of my nephew, John Leary. At 31 years young, he succumbed to GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor). John was young and adventurous. He loved life and was all about family. He decided to begin Team John with the Institute/Jimmy Fund in 2004, after he was diagnosed with this rare stomach cancer, GIST.

 John only had 15 short months to experience being a father to his son, Christopher. As the family shares the stories of who his dad was, and how much he impacted each and every one of their lives, Christopher will be able to carry his father in his heart for the rest of his life. John definitely lives in my heart and I would like to Honor him and my family by raising money in his name to continue to fight cancer in hopes that someday there will be a cure. 

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1289 Michael Nielsen

 My name is Michael Nielsen, and I grew up just south of the home of Harley Davidson in a small town called Franksville, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, I left for the Army where I did deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During my time in the Army, I started riding motorcycles. After being medically retired I stayed in the South Puget Sound area of Washington. 

 

My first long distance ride was the summer after leaving the Army. I rode 22 national parks in a month to raise funds for veterans’ suicide prevention programs. The following summer I rode my first Iron butt, I was hooked. In 2021 I was able to ride 22 parks again, completing it in about three weeks this time. After that I really got into the Iron Butt challenges. Completing a variety of their challenges over the next few years. I’ve completed around 30 certified rides at this point. Along the way I learned about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. I really learned a lot about it when a series of finishers were on a podcast I enjoy where they talked about their experiences in 2020 and 2022. I followed it closely in 2024 when a good friend of mine took up the challenge for the first time. I want to take on the challenge to see if I can take a lifetime of skills and put them all together in one large event. 

 

 

I have chosen to raise money for Mile Monsters Inc. a nonprofit started by long distance riders doing epic things to help their “Heroes”, young boys, who are battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. DMD is a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy that primarily affects young boys and is currently one hundred percent fatal. Mile Monsters helps the families with needs like adaptive vans, fill gaps in treatment costs when insurance won’t cover, and providing experiences that allow the Heroes to get the most out of life that they can.

DONATE :Mile Monsters 

 

 

Meet The Rider # 893 William Felts

 

My name is Will Felts number 893 and I am 53, married and the father of 2 girls of 11 and 9 years old. We are in the Tulsa Oklahoma area. I have many hobbies and riding or building motorcycles are my top two as I have the time. I like to ride Iron Butt challenges and started to certify these a couple of years ago with the goal of completing 20 within a year and prepping for the 2024 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge ride but had a crash in southern Arkansas when doing a Tour of Honor certified ride. I was able to get my 20^th on the 14^th month so still close to my goal. This next goal of completing the HH is a high priority for me for several reasons.

I first attempted the HH in 2018, I made it just outside of Cody Wyoming with just over 7,000 miles. I noticed my front tire had threads showing when I stopped for construction. I started to look for a tire shop in town. Being a Friday afternoon I could not find anyone with a tire my size and it would have been the following week before I could get it sent in. I threw the towel in at that point and loaded my bike in to a U-Haul due to vacation day limitations at the job I had at the time and headed home just thankful for the country I was able to see. I was excited for 2020 and bought a bike that had a common size tire and was preparing for the ride when COVID hit and I was unable to get the time off…  I set my targets for 2022. In October I had a crash on a 4-wheeler that took out 2 of my tendons in my left knee and I had to have cadaver parts installed to get back in service. I made a strong come back with intentions of 2024 when I had a bike crash in 2023. After another surgery and a few screws with plates I was able to get back after it but did not have the time to make the Alaska trip so focused on a couple of rally s and wondered if I should even plan for 2026...

 

 

 

 Back to the “why”, when I first went on HH in 2018 I had all kinds of thoughts and plans on how I was going to do that ride. None of it was as I had envisioned or planned and I learned to adapt and just enjoy the trip. It was a real struggle around the 5^th day but I powered through with a "moment" and things began to change for me. I continue to search for that feeling these days and sometimes find it when on the Iron Butt rides. The only way to explain that feeling is there comes a time for me when everything in me is exhausted, work stress and anything else is completely gone…

 

 

 

 

 I find my self floating through floating down the road and time on my bike with absolutely nothing else and once its over I have a huge rush of gratefulness for my family and being able to be there to experience it… its only for a moment and it’s very hard to put in to words but that feeling when I find it is something that cannot be replicated by any other means that I have found... It always comes during a long distance ride when pushing myself... Maybe I can find it again on this trip and see some old friends and new roads. Also, I need to finish this ride for once….

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I chose this due to the fact the children that do not have a choice in any of this and in most cases when they need this type of assistance as there are no other options at all for them to get help and try to turn around their situation.  

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1321 Mark Niosi

I’m Mark Niosi—aka MarkyMark  Rider #1321. I’m a traveler, sightseeing seeker, and adventure rider, always up for the next find on the road. I chase sunrises and the kind of backroads that teach you who you really are. Those miles have carried me through Iron Butt rides, Tour of Honor routes, cross-country journeys, and purpose-driven monster marathons—from Utah’s red rock deserts to the cliffs of the Cabot Trail, from Florida’s heat to Quebec’s… questionable roads. In 2026, I’ll be riding my 2025 Road Glide in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.  When I’m not on the bike, I’m trying to keep up with my incredible wife and our two kids, exploring national parks whenever we can, and pretending weekends will be peaceful (they never are). I’m also active in my community, supporting kids through Scouting STEM programs and volunteering at local food pantries. Off the bike, I’m a research scientist working toward breakthroughs in cancer and inflammatory disease. Call it nerd mode with a rebellious streak.

 

 

Why I’m Riding the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge?
As rookie, being chosen to ride where so many legends have ridden before me is something I don’t take lightly. I’m truly honored. For me, the Hoka Hey represents honesty, integrity, resilience, and a community that feels like family. This is a purpose-driven journey—something bigger than me.  My goal is to finish with honor and integrity, push myself toward a Top 20 finish, and come out the other side in one piece. I’m competitive—that’s just who I am—but at the end of the day, it’s simple: ride your ride.

 

 

My Charity
I’m proud to ride for Mile Monsters Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting kids battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)—a fatal, muscle-wasting disease. These boys—Jaxson, Drew, Alfie, Turbo, Brody, Jack, and Gavin—are the true heroes behind my ride.  Along with my family and friends, they give me the purpose to push through the hard moments, raise awareness, and keep moving forward when the miles get tough. I’m honored to carry these heroes’ names across the country during the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.

 

 

To make a donation :Mile Monsters Inc

 

 

Sponsors & Support  
I’m deeply grateful for the sponsors below who invest their time, product, and service to help dial in my bike before the challenge. Their support isn’t just mechanical—it helps carry these boys’ names across the country, one mile at a time. Please take a moment to visit their pages and support the businesses that support me and this ride.

     •    Hartford Harley-Davidson

     •    AdvanBlack
     •    Lifestyle Cycles
     •    SantoroFabWorx
     •    Clearwater Lights
     •    Pod Gaudz Solutions
     •    9 Lives Barbershop
     •    Legacy Designs
     •    Hippo Hands

I also want to thank my fellow Mile Monsters, mentors, the long-distance riding community, and my close friends back home who have reached out over the years with wisdom, encouragement, and experience. Yourguidance and support mean more than I can put into words—thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

— Mark

visit: www.markymarkhokahey2026.com 

Meet The New Rider # 1306 Dave Balay

 

Introduction: My Journey into Motorcycling

My journey into motorcycling began at eleven years old and quickly grew into a lifelong passion. I was drawn to the sense of freedom, focus, and connection that only comes from being on two wheels. Over the years, riding has become more than a hobby—it’s a way of grounding myself, exploring the world, and challenging my own limits.It is the only time I feel truly alive.  From winding mountain passes to open prairie highways, each ride reminds me that life’s best moments are found off the beaten path.

Why I’m Drawn to the Hoka Hey Challenge

The 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge represents everything I love about motorcycling—endurance, integrity, and purpose. It’s not  race; it’s a test of character and spirit. The idea of navigating thousands of miles across North America using only basic directions speaks to my sense of adventure and resilience. I’m inspired to take part because the Hoka Hey is as much about personal growth as it is about the road—it’s about discovering what you’re capable of when you strip everything down to the essentials and keep riding forward.

Riding with Purpose

As I prepare for the 2026 challenge, I want my journey to mean more than just miles and memories. Riding long distances has taught me that endurance has purpose when it’s tied to something bigger than yourself. That’s why I’m dedicating my effort to raising awareness and support for an organization whose mission resonates deeply with me: Spirit North.

About Spirit North and Why It Matters

Spirit North is an Alberta-based charity that uses sport and outdoor adventure to empower Indigenous youth and communities across Canada. Through programs that build confidence, connection, and leadership, they help young people discover their own strength and potential. I believe in what they’re doing because, much like motorcycling, their work is about freedom, movement, and transformation. Supporting Spirit North means helping the next generation find their own path forward—and that’s a ride worth taking.

I am looking forward to meeting the other Hoka Hey participants. Come on August 2026.! 

-Handsome Dave