Meet Te New Rider # 1337 Heather Royce-Roach

Hi, I am Heather Lewis (Royce-Roach now), I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, experienced
long-distance rider, and a woman whose strength has been shaped by both adventure and
unimaginable loss. After losing my eldest son Brandon, just 37 years old, in November
2025, I have chosen to honor his life through purpose, resilience, and action. Just days
after donating his organs to save others, while my other children and family were in town
My husband Mike and I decided there is never enough time. So after 10 years of love and
cohabitation we were married days later. We have grounded ourselves in love and forward
motion, all of which makes this ride a special journey for me.

By day, I serve my community through restorative and obesity medicine. Beyond the clinic,
my husband owns the local H-D dealership, so I also help with advertising, marketing,
riding motorcycles that need mileage to re-sale in California. I am also a dedicated
endurance rider who finds clarity and healing on the open road, often traveling thousands
of miles across the country in search of connection, perspective, and the beauty in the
journey.

 

For the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, I am riding for something far greater than the
miles. I will be riding for The Desi Strong Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting
children and families facing pediatric cancer.

 

My ride is inspired by young fighters like Nathan Johnson, ayoung boy very close to my
heart. Nathan is a child who continues to defy the odds after brain surgery, stroke, and
ongoing medical challenges. Through Desi Strong, families like Nathan’s receive direct
financial support to help ease the overwhelming cost of care.
I believe my mission is simple but powerful,
To turn miles into meaning
To turn loss into impact
And to remind us that even the smallest contribution can change a life
Help families stay strong in the fight that matters most, Support The Desi Strong


Thank You To Palm Springs Harley Davidson for Sponsoring my ride.

Meet The Returning Rider # 964 Ignacio Merani

 

My name is Ignacio Merani, mostly known as Nacho #964. I've been living in Miami since I came to this country in 2007.
I started riding in 2008 and got into long distance in 2014. I first heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge during lunch on a ride.  A couple of Hoka Hey riders talked about the challenge and all the experiences they went through.

 

 

 They also talked about the Ironbutt Association, the rallies, scavenger hunts and challenges.
That was the spark that got me started. During different events I met other riders but didn't get into the challenge for various reasons.

 Finally I was able to participate in 2020. It was really hard, I had never ridden so many days or so many miles. As others foretold, it was a life-changing experience.
Despite some mechanical problems and an accident I finished. I rode again in 2022, this time was uneventful, and I finished again.

 

 

In 2023 I was accepted in the Ironbutt Rally, became a finisher and got awarded the IBR #656
I rode in 2024 but had to drop out in Oklahoma because a truck rear-ended me. It was very disappointing, but also another lesson learned.
Besides long-distance riding, my other passion is "long-distance running." I run regularly and occasionally complete a marathon, last year, I finished Tokyo and Sydney.
Being part of the Hoka Hey family has been an honor. Every place I go where I see someone with the patches I feel I'm among family.
This is going to be my fourth challenge and hopefully my third finish.
I will see you all at the start line.

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1359 Jason Shumway

 

 

Hi, my name’s Jason Shumway.  I’m 48 years old and I live in my hometown of Pratt, KS.  I have worked 21 years as an xray/ct tech at our local hospital. At the age of 8 I got my first dirtbike for my birthday and fell in love. While growing up I owned several all the way through college, riding friends tracks, trail riding, and going to the sand dunes. After college I made the switch to Harleys, and soon started taking trips to rallies. My road trips kept getting longer and longer, and the past few years I’ve been getting into certified IBA rides and scavenger type rallies.

 

Way back in 2010 I spotted a flyer for the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge at a Wichita dealership and thought that sounded like an awesome adventure to ride from Florida to Alaska. It wasn’t until 13 years later, while admiring some auxiliary lights on a bike at Sturgis, I met Cheyenne Beatty. We talked about his bike and about his experiences with riding the Hoka Hey. We’ve kept in touch, and I followed his Hoka Hey  ride in 2024. After attending some Taco Runs and the Bardstown Rendezvous, and meeting some of the other seasoned riders, I decided I wanted to give it a go and see what I’m capable of. My goal is to just make it to the finish line. I’m also looking forward to seeing some beautiful parts of this country that I have yet to explore.

The best part of the Hoka Hey is getting the chance to give back to my community. PAHS - Pratt Area Humane Society is who i’ve chosen to ride and fundraise for this year. They help our community by rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding new homes for pets. The Pratt Area Humane Society is a Kansas Nonprofit 501(c) corporation committed to the prevention of neglect and cruelty to animals, providing a healthy enviroment for animals until they are adopted by an appropriate owner and to educate the public about animal care and responsible pet ownership including encouraging or requiring spaying/neutering to control animal population. 

 

 

Please consider donating to PAHS. Any amount big or small will make an impact.

Thank You.

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1297 Brian Berryhill

 

My name is Richard Brian Berryhill, I go by Brian, and I am sixty-five years old. I've ridden motorcycles for over fifty years, and the road has taught me more than I ever expected — patience, respect, and gratitude for every mile. Meeting new people along the way has always meant a lot to me, and I try to carry that same openness into everything I do.

I'm taking on the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge because it's a serious test of endurance, and I want to see what I'm made of. Ten thousand miles is no small undertaking, and I don't take it lightly — I'm going into this with respect for the challenge and a willingness to give it everything I have.

As part of this ride, I've chosen to raise funds for Second Chance Ranch, a nonprofit out of Duncan, Oklahoma, that provides free mentoring, after-school programs, leadership development, prevention education, and life-changing opportunities for local youth. Their mission is to prevent drug and alcohol abuse and improve the lives of our kids. My goal is to raise $10,000 for their work. You can follow Second Chance Ranch on Facebook for updates on Brian's ride.

Meet The Returning Rider # 83 Lee Smith

 

Problem Child #83

People always ask why I keep coming back to the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.

It isn’t because I’m chasing another finish.

It isn’t because I’m trying to prove anything.

I come back because somewhere along this road, Hoka Hey stopped being a motorcycle challenge and became part of who I am.

The younger me thought this ride was about miles, checkpoints, and finishing. The older me understands it’s about people. It’s about the stranger who becomes family. The rider who pulls over when you need help. The quiet conversations at gas pumps. The stories you’ll remember long after you’ve forgotten where you slept that night.

In 2022, my Hoka Hey family helped me fulfill the hardest promise I’ve ever made. Together, they carried my son, August, across North America. His ashes now rest in mountains, churches, rivers, deserts, coastlines, and countless places I’ll probably never see again. Every rider who accepted that responsibility gave me a piece of peace I’ll never be able to repay.

People know me as Problem Child #83. Beth gave me that nickname years ago because I tend to ask questions, stir things up once in a while, and keep people on their toes. The joke has always been that I can find a problem anywhere. The truth is, I’ve spent most of my life trying to solve them. If someone needs help, needs a laugh, or simply needs someone to listen, I hope I’m the guy who stops.

These days I don’t ride to outrun life.

I ride to appreciate it.

Every sunrise.

Every storm.

Every small-town diner.

Every handshake.

Every conversation.

That’s what Hoka Hey has become for me.

As my patch reminds me every morning…

It’s a Good Day to Ride.

So I’ll continue to…

Ride with Respect. Live with Purpose.

If you see me out there, don’t be a stranger. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and tell me your story. I’ll probably have one to tell you in return.

Until then…

I’ll see you in my mirrors.

— Lee “Problem Child #83” Smith

Oh I forgot 

I will be riding as usual for the tribe we are representing, so this year it will be …

PRAIRIE BAND POTAWATOMI NATION

Boys and girls club 

DONATE 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1305 Brian Losey

 

 

 I grew up as an Air Force brat. My Mom and I lived in Japan while my Dad did 3 tours in Vietnam as a radial reciprocating engine mechanic wrenching on A-1 Sandy forward observer aircraft. I graduated from the US Air Force Academy and crossed services into the Navy in 1983, and spent the next 33 years serving in the Special Operations community. I retired from the Navy in late 2016, and for the past 10 years worked as an independent consultant in the defense industry, concurrently participating in fulfilling partnerships in two cutting edge advanced technology companies. 

 

I thrive on purpose, not happiness. Happiness comes and goes with the ups and downs of life, but purpose drives me. Through my Teammate Ed Maulbeck, I was introduced to a compelling way to serve the American Indian and US Military Veteran’s Communities by raising funds through the challenge this grueling motorcycle endurance test presents. 

 

With gratitude, I will be riding for the Give to Give Foundation G2G, a special non-profit that serves the American Indian Community, US Military Veterans as well as men and women incarcerated in prisons in the US and other countries. G2G brings the cutting edge of proven neuro-science in personal transformational change through meditation as taught by the world renown Dr Joe Dispenza. Dr Joe has generously shared his hard earned knowledge for G2G to expose communities through this non-profit channel. I had the good fortune to bring Ed and his wife to G2G and ultimately, Dr Joe’s global retreat events, and he has brought me to the  Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. 

 

I ask for your support by donating to this cause to help bring more and more People together through the impactful work of this foundation and Dr Joe. All are One. Hoka Hey!

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1371 Woody Carter

 

 

My name is Woody B. Carter (Rider #1371) from San Antonio, Texas. My journey on two wheels began in 1988 on a Honda 450. Shortly after, in 1989, I joined the U.S. Army straight out of high school, retiring in 2019 after 30 rewarding years of service. Throughout my military career, I constantly sought out the toughest challenges, graduating from Air Assault, Airborne, Ranger, Drill Sergeant, and Battle Staff schools. I deployed to Desert Shield/Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, twice to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. While stationed in Germany, I bought my first Harley—a 1996 FXSTC Softail. I still have her today and plan to pass her down to my son when he is ready. However, for this ultimate challenge, I will be piloting my 2023 Harley-Davidson Ultra.

 

Why I Ride
I believe deeply in the purpose; self-discovery, and healing, that long-distance riding provides. I once rode the entire 469-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway solo on my Softail. I've tackled the tight, technical twists of the legendary Tail of the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, Devil’s Triangle and Moonshiner 28 while in North Carolina and Tennessee. It was a transformative experience—just me, my bike, the open road, and endless space for deep reflection. When I first heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge three years ago, I was instantly drawn to it. It represents the ultimate test: a challenge similar to my Blue Ridge ride, but twenty times longer. I am feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, but I am fully prepared to take this on and look forward to meeting new lifelong friends and family along the way.

 

My Charity: Breakthrough T1D
I am proudly riding to support Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF). Founded in 1970 by families personally impacted by type 1 diabetes, Breakthrough T1D is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They are dedicated to opening doors once closed by a T1D diagnosis by uniting the brightest minds to advance life-changing treatments, influence public policy, and improve global access to care. By driving relentless innovation, Breakthrough T1D aims to make type 1 diabetes a condition of the past. Learn more at walk.BreakthroughT1D.org.