My name is Eric Parker, Rider #1120, based in Tampa, FL and participating in the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge for the first time. I'm a Marine Corps veteran and former Indianapolis police officer who later pivoted to a career in finance — now in my 16th year as an Executive Director with Morgan Stanley. Motorcycling has truly been a lifelong passion for me; I've owned more than 20 motorcycles, from motocross and sport bikes in my younger days, to the adventure riding and long-distance moto-camping I've come to love in the last several years.
I learned about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge through fellow Morgan Stanley colleague and Rider #1038, Gene Fiamma, whose firsthand accounts of the mental and physical demands of this challenge immediately captivated me. I've always believed that doing difficult things is where life's greatest satisfaction is found — and very few motorcyclists have ever attempted an endurance challenge of this magnitude. That alone makes the prospect of finishing it something truly extraordinary. Even more, the friendships and the connections I am sure to make, and the bonds forged by the shared struggle make the challenge irresistible to me.
Equally meaningful to me is the opportunity to raise funds through participating in this challenge for NorthStar Relief, a 501(c)(3) I've supported for nearly a decade. This outstanding organization funds faith-based and humanitarian efforts in Central America and Africa — providing shelter, medical care, nutrition, and education to families living in desperate poverty, with every dollar going directly to those in need.
I'd be honored to have your support. Please consider donating here: https://www.northstarrelief.com/donations/.
I look forward to seeing my fellow Hoka Hey brothers and sisters in Woodstock, IL when the 2026 Challenge kicks off on August 2nd! 🤙
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