Challenge Cheer Zones will be in designated areas along the Venture for Veterans^TM Colorado Cycling Challenge route. On August 31. 2017, “The Voice of the Rockies”, Jerry Schemmel, will attempt to break the UltraMarathon Cycling Association’s record for solo non-stop cycle across the state of Colorado. Jerry is doing this to benefit Paws for Purple Hearts and he needs your energy and participation to beat the record.

Official Challenge Cheer Zones will be held in Montrose, Gunnison, Monarch Pass and Salida, Colorado. Please help Jerry break the record and raise funds to help our injured Veterans by coming out and cheering him on! If you’re unable to travel to one of our designated Challenge Cheer Zones, click on the icons on the map to see when Jerry will be riding through your town. Get some friends together and get out to highway 50 to cheer.

Official Challenge Cheer Zones

Challenge Cheer Zone Montrose:

Location: N. San Juan Avenue between E. Main and N. 1st Street

Time: Arrive at 9:10am. Jerry’s ride through will be at approximately 10:00am.

Challenge Cheer Zone Gunnison:

Location: Jorgensen Park, Highway 50 at South Teller Street

Time: Arrive at 1:20pm. Jerry will be racing through Gunnison at approximately 2:20pm. Come out early and get ready to cheer on Jerry!

Challenge Cheer Zone Monarch Pass:

Location: Monarch Lodge parking lot

Time: Arrive at 4:30pm. Estimated time Jerry Schemmel will be riding through is 5:30pm

Monarch Pass is a fabulous destination and we anticipate it will be our largest Challenge Cheer Zone. A beautiful and short drive from Colorado Springs. To our military members serving in the Colorado Springs area, this is a great opportunity for a fun road trip to a gorgeous destination to show your support for your wounded brothers & sisters.

Challenge Cheer Zone Salida:

Location: Centennial Park, corner of Holman and E. Rainbow (Highway 50)

Time: Arrive at 5:40pm. Jerry will be passing through Salida at approximately 6:40pm

At each official Challenge Cheer Zone, Paws for Purple Hearts personnel will be collecting donations. Checks should be made out to Paws for Purple Hearts with V4V in the notation line. You can also shop for items on our Amazon Wish Lists and bring those gifts to a Challenge Cheer Zone.

Venture for Veterans^TM Colorado Cycling Challenge is being filmed by a professional documentary film crew. Don’t you want to see and hear yourself in an upcoming documentary film? We’ll also have a professional photographer in support vehicles taking photos of supporters along the route. Show the world you support Veterans!

• Start pulling together donations from your community groups; VFW’s, American Legions, churches, cycling clubs, scouts and your neighbors.
• Caravan to an official Challenge Cheer Zone as a group. Coordinate your signage and clothes. Venture for Veterans^TM Colorado Cycling Challenge is an inspiring event — bring that attitude with you!
• Have fun and get loud! Bring your voice, cow bells & bullhorns to make your cheers loud and heard. Jerry will get an injection of inspiration and energy hearing and seeing you along the challenge cycling route.
• Wear purple. Or if you’re active military, wear your uniform as you come out to support an event that assists your wounded brothers & sisters.

• Bring American flags to wave — be your best patriotic self! Dogs are welcome too (on leash, please). Dress your dog in something purple or patriotic.
• Get the kids involved by making encouraging signs for Jerry to draw inspiration & motivation from. Get poster board, colorful pens and get creative! Kids, your contributions are so important to our mission. Start a lemonade stand, have a bake sale or make doggie bandanas to sell in your community. Show up with your family to an official Challenge Cheer Zone and present your donations to Paws for Purple Hearts.
• Bring homemade cards for wounded Veterans to a Challenge Cheer Zone and we’ll distribute to injured heroes when our dogs visit VA hospitals. Thank them for their service. This small act can bring such joy to an injured Veteran.

Each of our dogs touches an average of 50 Veterans’ lives before being placed permanently with another injured comrade. Paws for Purple Hearts is unique in that we train Veterans with PTSD, TBI, MSA and mobility issues to train the service-dogs-in-training. This model recreates a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie for our Veteran trainers and a renewed sense of purpose. Your donations are wisely used to assist more Veterans get the help they need through Warrior Canine Therapy^TM, Service Dogs and Facilities Dogs. We couldn’t do this without your help!

We look forward to seeing you on August 31, 2017 at one of our Venture for Veterans^TM Colorado Cycling Challenge Cheer Zones!