Red Star Riders

Red Star Riders is a national motorcycle-community fundraising and awareness initiative of Red Star Foundation. It brings riders, clubs, and riding groups together to help prevent suicide among current military, veterans, and first responders and to support the families left behind. Through rides, fundraising, and conversation, participants help make this mission visible in communities across the country.

Red Star Families are families of current military members, veterans, and first responders who died by suicide. Red Star Foundation works to ensure these families receive Hope, Recognition, Connection—and know they have not been forgotten.

No. Any motorcycle rider who supports the mission is welcome. You can ride as an individual, with friends, or as part of a motorcycle club or riding group.

Riders participate individually or through a club or team, take part in recognized fundraising rides or events, and help share the Foundation's message. Check the registration and participation instructions for each event, especially if you want your ride to count toward patches or Red Star devices.

Examples include group rides, poker runs, rallies, memorial rides, and club- or community-hosted fundraisers that support Red Star Foundation. Before organizing or joining an independent event, confirm with the Foundation whether it qualifies for Red Star Riders recognition.

Yes. Solo riders are welcome. Whether a particular ride counts for official recognition depends on the event or fundraising campaign, so confirm the requirements in advance.

Yes. Clubs can organize fundraising rides, join larger events, or incorporate the mission into an existing charity ride. Contact Red Star Foundation early to coordinate recognition, fundraising details, and appropriate use of the program name and artwork.

The official patch symbolizes a rider's commitment to the mission, service, and solidarity with Red Star Families. Under the general program described here, riders earn their patch after completing a first qualifying Red Star Foundation fundraising event. Certain partner campaigns may provide patches upon registration; always follow the instructions published for that event.

For the first qualifying ride, riders earn a patch. After that, riders earn one small metal Red Star device for each additional qualifying ride. A large Red Star device marks the fifth additional qualifying ride and every fifth additional ride thereafter (the 5th, 10th, 15th, and so on). These devices are worn on the Red Star Riders patch as a visible record of continued participation.

No. The ride must qualify under Red Star Riders event or campaign guidelines. If you are unsure, check with the event organizer or Red Star Foundation before the ride.

Yes. You may dedicate a ride to a fallen current military member, veteran, first responder, or another loved one lost to suicide. When sharing a person's name, photograph, or story publicly, obtain appropriate family permission. Memorial recognition at an event depends on its arrangements.

Participants can find camaraderie, shared purpose, opportunities to raise awareness, and a tangible way to support a mission that matters. Eligible riders may earn the official patch and devices. Event or Foundation recognition may also be available, depending on the activity.

Rides can start conversations about suicide prevention and the families affected by loss. Events may also bring riders to local restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and other small businesses while connecting community members with a common cause.

Contributions to Red Star Foundation help advance its charitable mission, including suicide-prevention education and outreach, efforts such as Red Star Voices, community-based connection initiatives, and support and recognition for Red Star Families. Contributions also support the costs of carrying out those activities. For details about a particular fundraiser or designated gift, contact the Foundation.

Absolutely. Friends, families, businesses, and community supporters can donate to an official fundraiser, sponsor or support an event, volunteer when opportunities are available, or help share the mission.

Explain who the ride supports, share the approved event or donation link, and invite others to participate or contribute. Use official Red Star Foundation branding and materials without altering the Red Star symbol. Coordinate with the Foundation before creating materials that imply an event is officially sponsored or endorsed.

Each ride creates an opportunity to reach someone who may need support, bring a family out of isolation, or introduce a community to suicide-prevention resources. Riders turn a shared passion into a visible commitment to the people and families behind the mission.

Yes. Follow applicable licensing, insurance, equipment, and traffic requirements; obey the event organizer's safety instructions; and ride within your abilities and conditions. The mission matters, but no fundraiser is worth an unsafe ride.

Connect with Red Star Foundation, find an official or recognized Red Star Riders event, and follow its registration and fundraising instructions. If your club wants to host a ride, contact the Foundation before publishing event details. Start at redstarfoundation.org or redstarfoundation.org/contact.

Red Star Foundation is not an emergency crisis service. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Veterans, service members, and their families can call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.