Vietnam veterans hit Masterton yesterday on a national charity motorcycle run that has so far gathered $6000 despite tight-fisted corporations turning their backs on the cause.
Organiser Alastair MacKenzie said the funds raised so far by the Ride of the Veterans had come entirely from "grassroots" people and other veterans, while
200 corporations and businesses chose to walk away from the charity when asked to contribute.
"Hubbards gave us 12 packets of breakfast cereal and the Interislander is paying for our travel across the Cook Strait ? which is good ? but other businesses like Telecom, BP, Vodafone and the rest just didn't want to know," Mr MacKenzie said.
The charity ride started in North Cape on Friday, he said, and had gathered about $3000 until they hit the Year of the Veteran convention in Wellington on Monday that doubled the amount of funds raised so far.
The Ride of the Veterans is being held to highlight the Year of the Veteran this year, he said, and as a journey honouring fellow veterans killed in battle and those who have died since returning home.
The riders are calling into Returned and Services Association offices throughout the country and presenting letters from Minister of Veteran Affairs Rick Barker and national RSA head John Campbell.
Accompanying Mr MacKenzie on the run into Masterton yesterday were fellow riders Dave Barr, a double amputee and former marine from California, and Kiwi veterans Bruce Gordon and John Coleman.
Mr Barr lost his legs serving with the South African Army and is a two-time Guinness world record holder and owner of four Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
The first record Mr Barr took was for crossing northern Europe, Russia and Siberia by motorcycle and the second was for the first motorcycle journey between the four points of the compass in Australia.
Masterton Vietnam veteran Paul Wellington was planning to join the riders on the Wairarapa leg of their journey.
