When Chuck Hellings and his oldest son, Ryan, created their destination management company - Jim Thorpe Adventures - their goal was simply to engage individuals and families in the Jim Thorpe and Greater Carbon County area of Pennsylvania in outdoor adventures. As interest in the company increased, they decided it was time to give back.
In 2015, through their work with another organization dedicated to helping families of fallen first responders, the Hellings learned about TMF. “Having never served myself, I’m keenly aware of the sacrifices our veteran community makes, so it was a very natural fit for us,” Chuck said.
That year, the family dedicated all proceeds to TMF from their annual Jim Thorpe Remembrance Ride, a 75-mile mountain bike trek held the weekend after Memorial Day. In total, riders and fundraisers raised $1,000 from the ride along the Delaware River and Lehigh Heritage Trail.
“To be honest, we were excited about that,” Chuck said. “We thought $1,000 was pretty good, but since then, we’ve continued to raise more and more. To date, thanks to support from TMF, we’ve given close to $75,000 to the organization.”
Throughout the years, the Jim Thorpe Remembrance Ride has resulted in a lot of memories for Chuck, his family, and all of its participants, as well as numerous opportunities to pay tribute to our nation’s fallen. In 2017, Chuck recalled, on day 2 as riders were approaching the overlook about 100 feet above the Lehigh Valley they came face-to-face with an eagle perched in a nearby tree. As riders passed, the eagle followed the group to a gap in the mountains, circled and then continued on his journey south. To Chuck, it was a great reminder of 1stLt Travis Manion, USMC, and the legacy of courage and honor he left behind.
“Benefiting veteran organizations like TMF, it’s our feeble attempt at paying an unpayable debt,” Chuck said. “I thank my creator and our veterans for every gift of every day that’s bestowed upon me. Memorial Day comes and goes, but a lot of people significantly miss the reason for that holiday. Holding the ride each year the weekend after Memorial Day is our way of commemorating, honoring, and remembering the fallen. We’re so thankful TMF partners with us to do that.”
In 2022, the ride’s most successful year to date, Jim Thorpe Adventures raised $18,300 for TMF. As a tradition, riders carried with them an extra jersey representing the “Fallen Rider.”
“May we always remember those who gave us our freedoms and may we always thank those who pay our debts today,” Chuck said. “We have no idea how uncivil war is - I certainly don’t. We enjoy our sovereignty because of our Armed Forces. They make us who we are.”