Fourth of July bike ride to raise money for Altoona VA

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — The annual Freedom Ride will be hitting the streets of Tyrone on Independence Day, and it’s benefitting the James E. Van Zandt Medical Center .

The Fourth of July event celebrates freedom and allows bikers from all over to ride for a cause. Registration on the day of the event starts at 9 a.m. and the ride will begin at 10 a.m. You can also register in advance online .

Last year, the ride raised $50,000 to support programs for veterans across Pennsylvania. The ride starts and ends at the American Legion (1459 Lincoln Avenue) and it’s approximately 10 miles. Since starting in 2011, it has continued to grow.

“A bunch of guys got together, they wanted to show their patriotism on the Fourth of July, they dressed up in their Uncle Sam hats and went for a bike ride and people were asking, hey this is great, you guys are supporting freedom, how can we help? So it turned into the Freedom Ride, which is a 501C3,” John Harlow, Friend of Freedom Ride, said.

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Some of the projects at the medical center that have benefitted from the ride include renovating the bus used to take residents to events, renovating several outdoor areas that can be used by residents, outpatients and visitors and then even using the money for funds to benefit veterans.

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