As with years past, the 2024 Awards are based on:

Raising awareness for social issues while sending Challengers through some of the most beautiful places in North America. Inspiring a willingness and desire to accept personal accountability with a sense of duty and principle; to cultivate wisdom, community and compassion and to display and foster respect, harmony, peace and friendship. Creating an army of warriors with the strength to face adversity; the character to make sacrifices and the desire to come to the aid of others in need. • Empowering others to overcome obstacles that have physically, mentally or financially challenged them and know they are not in it alone. We are the vehicle that's helps move them forward and refocus them toward success.

Selecting the top nominations for these awards is one of the hardest things the Board of Directors at the conclusion of each Challenge.

In recognition of their demonstration of these Core Values we’d like to acknowledge the following riders of the 2024 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™.

RESPECT – DON CHAFFER, #1002
Nominated by Terri Collier (#1164)
“I know the difficulty of riding a bike like that and it's brutal. I met him in Daytona. He and Spike told me the story of his trying the 3rd time to make the ride on this historical steel pony. I'd put one of my Where We Riding Challenge coins in my pocket when I left home, knowing I'd find someone who I would want to give it to. It was Hyde. Before we left Daytona, I gave it to him and told him, he was going to carry it the entire way to Homer. That he DID!!!”

Hyde showed respect for the old school ways. He wrenched on his own bike all the way to Alaska. He understands that the Hoka hey Motorcycle Challenge is so much more than a race to the finish line. He knows that life is like a good cup of tea… The longer the tea bag sits in hot water, the stronger it gets! The same goes for each of us and in the estimation of the Board of Directors, Hyde is a strong example of what it means to respect the mission of Hoka Hey.

HONOR – MIKE LAMB (#1098)
Nominated by Kory Wilson and Lee Kibbee
Lee said: “I have known Michael for a couple of years now both during the months leading up to the challenge and while riding the challenge Michael has been a steadfast example of the principals of honor and integrity both in his deeds as well as his word when talking about his participation in the challenge. You see, when Michael tells a story of a Hoka Hey ride I don't just come away having heard a cool story, I come away having heard about the honor and integrity Michael approaches this challenge with. During this challenge I saw so many riders pulled over looking at their phones and then I saw Michael telling those riders he didn't want their help with directions because they were cheating, and he didn't want to be a part of it. I'm also aware Michael mentored several new riders prior to the challenge. I know he was always my go to when I had a question, and he never failed to take the time to help me understand the right way to ride the challenge."

Kory felt: “Mike is the most respectful and respectable rider that I could imagine. Michael has gone above and beyond to be the walking example of what a good man, a man with warrior spirit, a rider that will push himself to the limits but not overboard, encourage others, and to broadcast the mission of what Hoka Hey is about."

While still in recovery from my operation, Mike made it a point to come and visit me, he handles his own difficulties without voicing any complaint. Michael “Wrong Way” Lamb is the walking example of honor.”

INTEGRITY – JASON “ICE MAN” SETZER (#1220)
Nominated by Terri Collier (#1164)
“Jason’s will to continue this ride with broken bones showed so much warrior spirit. He was determined to finish what he started. I'm not sure how he pushed thru under the road and weather conditions we encountered, but it was impressive. To have the will and warrior spirit to make yourself push past the limitations he did is impressive.

Ice Man didn’t expect to be considered a finisher and even questioned the Board’s decision to designate him as such. Because he finished the route for his own gratification and without expectations, the Board of Directors felt Jason showed the kind of integrity worth recognizing.

COMPASSION – MICHELLE “SHELL” FEDDERSEN (#1088)
“Shell was my first encounter of compassion as I watched her make her way thru the crowd of riders' pre-ride. From her first year til now, she truly cares for others well-being. She compassionately took me under her wing on the first morning of the ride. She asked me to pull in and ride alongside her that morning. Unknown to me she wanted to help me thru the first day learning the ropes on the directions. It was her compassion and drive that carried us both very successfully thru the first 2 days.”

Compassion is often the most nominated award because so many of our Challengers truly care about one another. We like to describe the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™ as a family; that is because of the care, respect and compassion you all show for one another. It is tough to choose from so many nominations sometimes and this year was no different – but – Shell has frequently and repeatedly shown the kind of compassion for her fellow riders. To the degree that the Board of Directors determined she is one of the best examples we have this year.

PERSEVERANCE – DETTA DEAN (#909)
Detta first attempted the Challenge in 2018 while experiencing a number of external concerns that ended up being too much of a distraction for her to overcome and finish. In fact, it was several years before these matters were in hand and Detta could return, undaunted, to the Challenge and reach the finish line.

Hers was not the best time, but it was the most determined. Nothing was going to stop Detta from reaching this goal, but she did it on her own terms. I understand that Detta managed to spread the word of Hoka Hey all the way from Florida to Alaska. She took the time to speak with everyone and to recognize their story. Sometimes listening to their hardships and consoling them with her own experiences. It takes and exceptional person to set their sights on completing what she started knowing the entire Hoka Hey community was watching and waiting and still be willing to take the time for others along the way. Detta exemplifies perseverance through her determination to reach the finish line no matter how long it took.

SACRIFICE
The act of giving up something that is valuable to you in order to help someone or something else:
In remembrance of those we’ve lost. What may seem a senseless tragedy can only be eased by the token that our loved ones were doing what they loved to do. Hoka Hey is often translated to mean “It’s a Good Day to Die” but it is important to know that it really is a call to action or an invitation to live life to the fullest. In doing so we do not invite death but rather refuse to go down without a fight. Find joy in the memory of those who embrace life; those lives that have meaning & purpose. These strong warriors who are leading the way with virtues like RESPECT, HONOR, INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, PERSEVERANCE and SACRIFICE.

These were by no means the only Challengers who demonstrated these core values. Let us also remember the Founder of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™ James Red Cloud – April 2, 1955 to June 29, 2017 and those whose lives are forever changed as a result of tragic accidents while participating in this formidable event.