€280,000 for people with muscle problems:A look back at the 27thHARLEY-DAVIDSON®CHARITY TOUR
Vienna, August 26, 2024 – From August 14th to 18th, the Harley-Davidson ® Charity Tour (HDCT) toured through Austria for the 27th time to collect donations for people with muscle problems. After the tour, an impressive donation of around €280,000 was achieved, which was used to finance therapies, aids, car modifications, etc. - also in cooperation with the Licht ins Dunkel emergency aid fund. We look back.
The HDCT visits Attnang-Puchheim Photo credit:Thomas Csincsich
The 27th HDCT started in Vienna on August 14th with a breakfast for the bikers at the sponsor Siblik Elektrik . The tour was then strengthened at the Simmering shopping center and long-time partner huma eleven by presenter and Radio Vienna DJ Alex List as well as numerous prominent supporters of the tour.
Also present were founder KR Ferdinand O. Fischer, Barbara Wussow, Christoph Fälbl, Tony Rei, director Danny Bellens, district leader Thomas Steinhart, Stefan Koubek as well as world barbecue champion Adi Bittermann and actor Albert Fortell, both of whom accompanied the entire tour as drivers.
HDCT 2024 Obernberg am Inn by Dmedien
The first donation checks were presented and together with over 200 bikers we continued to Wiener Neustadt to BILLA PLUS , where Alexander Tromet took over the moderation and accepted the donation checks. The tour then moved to the Mellach district heating power plant , where a warm welcome was given and a generous donation check from VERBUND was presented with music by Adi Pfeil and loving catering. We continued to Bad Radkersburg , where an exuberant party with moderator Dorian Steidl and the band Smashtime was held on the Hasenhaide to collect donations at the end of the first day of the tour.
Bikers from abroad – here from Bavaria – also support the HDCT with their participation and willingness to donate. Photo credit: Thomas Csincsich
Traditional and new stations of the HDCT On August 15th, almost 300 bikers drove on to the already traditional tour stop in Köflach , where the Krampus Association grilled for bikers and visitors and Dorian Steidl once again made them hungry for donations. The entourage set off for coffee to a new destination, the Koralpe. Curving mountain roads, a fantastic panorama and a gratifying donation check put everyone in a good mood. And so the HDCT then moved on with almost 400 bikers in the sunshine over the Sölkpass to the last venue of the day: Schladming. At the Schladming-Dachstein Nights on the main square, presenter Harry Prünster was able to collect donations in the Ennstal.
The first city where many guests were already waiting for the Harleys to arrive at the main square on August 16th was Gmünd in Carinthia . A singing performance by Harry Prünster and many donations from local companies caused great applause, as did the next stop at the main square in Lienz , where the HDCT is always welcomed. Jeni Willams performed and Mayor Elisabeth Blanik presented the donations from East Tyrol.
The HDCT is touring through Austria for a good cause. Photo credit: Thomas Csincsich
Driving pleasure for a good cause This was followed by a ride over the Felbertauern, between impressive mountain ranges on curved roads to Sankt Johann in Tirol , where the HDCT came Legends on Wheelsparade through the city The St. Johann brass band played a diverse repertoire and the evening ended with music from bands on various stages.
From St. Johann, the HDCT stopped for the first time at the Übergossene Alm on the Hochkönig on August 17th. The idyllic journey was crowned by a fantastic view, zither playing and a donation check. The tour then continued on its way to Attnang-Puchheim , where the town hall square was filled with the hot irons, which were admired extensively while the donations were handed over by Mayor Peter Groiß, among others. The entourage set off for the next destination in high spirits.
Prominent supporters: from left to right founder Ferdinand O. Fischer, district leader Thomas Steinhart, host Sabine Dreschkay, Stefan Koubek, Barbara Wussow, president Dieter Baier, director Danny Bellens, Albert Fortell and Alex List Photo credit: Konrad Kolbe
Harley meets Vespa The HDCT next stopped in Obernberg am Inn , where collections for muscle sufferers are carried out all year round and numerous checks were accepted. The tour was then merged with many Vespas from the “Ried Vespen Swarm” and ultimately led to the full main square in Ried im Innkreis with around 400 two-wheelers. DEMIAN rocked on stage for over a thousand visitors. The last evening event of the charity tour was traditionally a big party at which numerous other donations were received.
The best is saved for last. On the last day we went from Ried to Linz, where the tour was again accompanied by a Vespa at the Urfahraner market area as a guest at the Linz KRONE festival and where Die Edlseer created a great atmosphere.
Vice Mayor Martin Hajart and Linz AG said goodbye to the Harley riders with donation checks in the direction of Krems for the final collection of a donation at the Hofbräuhaus am Steinertor , where President Dieter Baier thanked the numerous sponsors and the many volunteers, especially Toni Aichenauer himself Sufferer of a muscle disease who collected an incredible €37,000 in donations with his Toni tour this year.
Donation partner of HDCT by Michael Lîwy.
The counting of all donations showed that after five days of traveling through the country, the Harley-Davidson ® charity tour for 2024 was able to generate €280,000
as part of the European Bike Week in September and in November the charity year will end with the traditional HDCT gala on November 16, 2024 in Vienna in a grand finale, where this year's total amount of donations will be announced in a festive setting.
