Meet The New Rider # 1340 Alex Alpert

 

My name is Alex Alpert, Rider #1340 from Groton, MA. Motorcycles have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started out tearing through trails on dirt bikes as a kid, but it was a close family friend, Sonny Chouinard, who truly set my path in motion. Sonny "brainwashed" me early on into becoming a loyal Harley-Davidson enthusiast, and by the time I turned twenty, I had my first Harley road bike. For twenty-five years, I was a casual rider, hitting the open road whenever I could but everything changed when I found a group of like-minded riders at my local Framingham 1264 Elks Lodge. That community reignited my passion and pushed me to start putting on serious miles. In 2020, I discovered endurance riding and realized it was more than just a test of stamina, it was a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, long-distance riding has introduced me to some of the greatest people on the planet, riders whose determination, humility, and heart inspire me to ride more and live life to the fullest. As a father to my two adult children, Jake and Zoe, I strive to show them what it means to live fully, to chase dreams, embrace challenges, and find freedom in the journey.

Over the past few years, I've developed a deep passion for long-distance and scavenger-style rallies, events that demand strategy, focus, and grit as much as endurance. Each rally is a mental and physical puzzle, pushing me to ride smarter, think faster, and adapt to whatever the road throws my way. That drive led me to the ultimate challenge, the 2025 Iron Butt Rally, a grueling test of skill, precision, and perseverance. Completing that event only fueled my desire to go further and dig deeper. The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge feels like the next evolution of that journey. It's a ride that tests not only endurance but heart, integrity, and resilience. I want Jake and Zoe to see that growth doesn't stop when you reach a goal, it's a lifelong pursuit that begins again at every new starting line.

This year, my ride carries a deeper meaning. I'm riding to support the Boston Bear Cubs, a local hockey program for athletes with special needs, and a family friend, Matty Marcone, whose strength, determination, and heart inspire everyone around him. Hockey has always held a special place in my life. I grew up playing it and later watched my son Jake fall in love with the game just as I did. Supporting Matty and the Bear Cubs allows me to combine that lifelong connection with a cause centered on teamwork, inclusion, and perseverance. Riding for them reminds me that every challenge can serve a greater purpose. Each mile of the Hoka Hey will be dedicated to Matty, the Bear Cubs, and to showing Jake and Zoe that the best rides in life are the ones that help lift others up along the way.

 

 

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1303 Mike Kozicki

 

I grew up on Long Island, New York, and served seven years in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, including overseas assignments and participation in NASA’s Transatlantic Abort Landing Team. While in the Navy, I studied Information Technology and specialized in custom Navy medical programs. After my service, I settled in Frederick, MD and was employed by Department of Defense. Currently I work at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics in Washington DC. My wife Jennifer and I have been together since 2007 and married since 2010; we have three dogs, Izzi (Norwich Terrier) , Olivia and Lillibet (Norfolk Terriers). 

 

Inspired by my father's love for motorcycles, I began riding early, with long-distance trips starting in 2016. A simple invitation to Sturgis from Bill Karitis sparked my passion for exploring small towns and open roads. 

 

I became aware of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2016; however, I waited to apply until I had accumulated several years of long distance riding experience. With the support of my lovely bride, family, and friends, I am looking forward to riding my own ride in August.

 

My charity choice for this Hoka Hey is Brunswick Beacon. The BEACON is a non-profit, ecumenical body, established primarily to provide food and emergency financial assistance to those in need, to include providing for the social, physical, and emotional needs of the most vulnerable citizens of the Greater Brunswick Community. https://www.brunswickbeacon.org DONATE TO THE BEACON

 

 

Meet The Returning Rider # 1113 Eric Cameron

My name is Eric Cameron.  I am a 53-year-old Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge rider.  I started riding motorcycles 37 years ago.  I started with café cruisers, and then progressed to street bikes, and finally Harley Davidson’s.   I have been with my beautiful bride for over 25 years.  We have raised four children and now have two grandchildren as well.  I served almost 25 years in the US Army as an Airborne Infantryman.  After retirement I entered the Government contracting world, where I now run my own company managing various Government contracts for the military, veteran’s affairs and various other Government entities.  

 

I ride the Hoka Hey as a personal journey and an opportunity to raise money for charity.  For many years I knew I was well honed machine that could survive in the woods, the side of a road, or in the worst combat conditions imaginable.  Now I use the Hoka Hey and other Long Distance Riding events to see if I still have the capability to push myself past what would be normal limits.  To see if I have what it takes to complete a spiritual journey, that will literally take me from one end of the continent to the other.  Not only will I be able to do good for others through my fundraising, but I will also be able to do a spiritual journey at the same time. 

 

This Hoka Hey I will be riding in remembrance of SFC Larry B. Pelham who recently lost his final battle from combat.  For that reason, I chose to ride for Veteran Suicide prevention.  The charity that I chose to raise money for during the Hoka Hey is called 22Mohawks.  This organization is established to help Veterans in various ways, but mainly to help them deal with their PTSD so that we can stop losing 22 of our Veterans every day.  As a Veteran with five combat deployments, who has been fighting PTSD for years, I understand how difficult the struggle they face is, and I want to give them every opportunity to heal and make it through a couple more days.  We owe our veterans the greatest debt of gratitude.  This is just one way that we can help pay that debt back.  The link to my charity is https://donorbox.org/hoka-hey-2026-riding-for-purpose-riding-for-lives.  All monies go directly to my charity. 

Meet The New Rider # 1343 Daniel Henry

My name is Daniel Henry from Bremen Ga. I’m proud to be taking on the 2026  Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge as rider #1343. I’ve been married to my amazing wife, Anna, for 34 years. We have 2 wonderful daughters & 3 beautiful  grandkids who inspire me everyday. For the past 25 years I’ve worked as a locomotive engineer on the railroad, a career that has instilled in me discipline, endurance & focus, all qualities I’ll carry with me on this incredible journey. 

I’ll be riding in support of The Til Valhalla Project. TVP has made and donated over 4500 memorial plaques, donated $1.5 million to assist with Veteran Suicide, and donated over 10,000 hours of therapy for those in need. Unfortunately, they only utilize the funds earned from their merchandise to create their plaques & they recommend that direct donations be made to STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE which is a fantastic nonprofit organization. SSS is the only national nonprofit focused solely on solving the issue of suicide among U.S. veterans and service members. They have an aggressive goal to reduce the military suicide rate by 40% no later than 2030. SSS has assisted over 3400 service members to date, and of these, over 90% completed a crisis plan, and 73% experienced a decrease in thoughts of suicide over their course of treatment.

Being chosen to ride in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is a true honor and I'm proud to take part in something that tests not only endurance, but heart and purpose. Although I am not a veteran, I have several friends & family that are & I'm riding in support of a cause that means a great deal to me. Every mile I ride is for those who served and for the families who carry their memory forward. It's a privilege to represent something bigger than myself, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to stand for our veterans and help make a difference. Every donation made through this ride goes directly to the mission of preventing soldier suicide & supporting those who have served. 

Meet The Returning Rider # 618 KC Aston

 

 

 My name is K.C. Aston, Hoka Hey Rider #618. This will be my 9th Hoka Hey Challenge. I was drawn to the Hoka Hey because of the attention it was to bring to the Pine Ridge Reservation.

 

 The past Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge have supported many native American tribes and I'm eager to help the Prairie Band Potawatomi Band, specifically the Boys & Girls Club (this years HHMC's chosen charity).

 

 

 I'm looking forward to seeing my HH family of riders and meeting all the new riders for their first challenge.

 

 If I have any pearls of wisdom, it would be REST WHEN YOU'RE TIRED, DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE EXHAUSTED. This journey will bring new incite to your lives and perhaps the way you live. See you in Woodstock. Be safe and ride safe!

 

 

Meet The Returning Rider # 1179 Danielle Stansell

 

 

 My name is Danielle “PopOff” Stansell, I am originally from Los Angeles, California and currently
moved back to North Carolina from Bavaria, Germany. I finally retired 22 years in the United States
Army on December 1st, 2025. I have been riding motorcycles since the age of 16, just over 26 years and
currently own a 2010 Harley Davidson Road Glide, a 2018 Harley Davidson Road King Special and a 2024 Pan American. I have not always rode Harley’s, I actually started out on a Suzuki GSXR650 and
GSXR1000. I graduated from sports bikes about 13 years ago when I realized it would be far more
comfortable to travel long distances on a cruiser.

 

 

 I have been a MSF Rider Coach since April 2015 and continue to work as a rider coach on Fort Bragg Instillation and Fort Bragg Harley Davidson. I take pride in being able to share my love of motorcycles others and sharing skills they will need along their journey.

 

I have had the privilege of riding to Cabo San Lucas in 2019 and riding the lower 48 states in a single ride
in 2022, I think those were a couple of my more memorable solo rides. I’ve completed several IBA 1000
and 1500 mile rides and even completed the IBA I-10 End to End/50 CC ride in about 43 hours. I am not
going to say I am an adventure junkie, but I will say that outside of scuba diving, riding a motorcycle and
exploring new places are my favorite things to do.

 

 

 While living in Europe I have rode through 26 countries and even completed a few IBA rides there. I also had the privilege of riding in 8 countries through Southeast Asia. In 2025, I said I was going to ride in Africa and was blessed with the chance to traverse the dirt roads of Kenya.

 

I have previously ridden and completed the 2024 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, where we
rode from Daytona, Florida to Key West, FL to Homer, Alaska. I wanted to ride the Hoka Hey Motorcycle
Challenge to be able to further improve upon seldom utilized means of traveling. While I already carry a
tent in my saddlebag during my travels and put it up as needed, being able to take part of an adventure
that will allow you to see more of back roads than highways will give the opportunity to see the things I
may have missed otherwise seems like the perfect adventure. The word challenge in and of its self is
something that will be an amazing accomplishment to achieve once able to cross the finish line again in
2026. This challenge will put me in the presence of so many other riders that love riding long distances
and I hope to be able to learn new tricks and new tools I’ll be able to use along my journey. This second
opportunity to participate in the Hoka Hey will allow me to further my skills and enjoy another amazing
adventure.

 

The non-profit organization that I have elected to support is “Abundance Educational Institute”.
This particular organization is something that is near to my heart because aJer being in the military for
an extended period of time and having the opportunity to complete my master’s degree in Elementary
Education and want to do something that aides those that need it in their forward progress in education
and life. Abundance Educational Institute is a school that touched my heart because it is a place that
was started to give those in urban settings the chance at an equal education as their peers. The money
raised will help provide support on the educational needs of both the students and the school. Our
hope is to build a lasting relationship of support.
Sponsors:
Evolve Clothing Brand Left lane bullie.com
Fundraising Link: Hoka Hey for Education

Meet The Returning Rider # 1205 William Boekholder

 

William "Bookie" Boekholder

Hometown Freeport IL

 

 

Retired

Age 64

Married 39 years

Two sons, both married

Two grandkids 

 

 

 

USAF Veteran

Ride a 2016 Victory Cross Country Tour

This year I'll be riding for the Darkhorse Lodge again.