Lucas Grounds was injured in December while out riding when he crossed a wooden covered bridge. The front end washed out and he was tossed into one of the side pillars. Grounds continues to make amazing strides in physical rehab, but still has a long way to go in his recovery process.

“It’s going to be a challenge, it’s a six mile climb, straight up,” Rory added. “I’ve raced my hand bike all over the world, at multiple world championship events, but have never attempted anything like this. It’s going to be tough, but I’ll be fighting for Lucas the whole climb.”

The Ride For Life event will start at the bottom of the mountain, with Rory beginning his journey up the mountain around 10 a.m. with intentions of making his way into Snowshoe Village for the start of the afternoon ATV race. Riders, families and fans are asked to line the starting area to cheer on Rory as he makes his way to the top. This event was also made possible with the help of Tely Energy and K Wolfe Media.

Rory continued, “It is amazing how far Lucas has come, and I know from experience how important the physical rehab aspect of this injury is, especially early on. Aggressive rehab is essential during the acute stages post spinal cord injury, but it’s also very expensive. The more we can help Lucas and his family get through this, the better the outcome for Lucas and his quality of life moving forward.”

A GoFundMe page has been created, with all proceeds going to the Grounds family, click HERE to donate. Also, keep up-to-date with Rory’s efforts on his Instagram - @rorymead.

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.

• Facebook: @gnccracing
• Instagram: @gncc_racing
• Twitter: @gnccracing
• YouTube: @racertv

How to Watch

Racer TV and MAVTV are the official homes for coverage of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) events. All 13 rounds, from the season opener in South Carolina to the finale, will air in taped-delayed telecasts on MAVTV, while Racer TV provides live streaming coverage of the 2 p.m. ATV and 1 p.m. motorcycle races from each event. Catch all the action at http://www.mavtv.com/ and http://www.racertv.com/. 

About GNCC Racing

The Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized is the World’s premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling two and three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through racetracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks, and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised live on RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join. 

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Media Contact:
Kayla Bolton
(304) 284-0084
[email protected]