Award-winning Indianapolis activist Richard Propes is going back out on the road from September 13-21, 2024 for a 150-mile 2024 Tenderness Tour committed to raising $1 million to eliminate an estimated $150 million in medical debt for Indiana families. 

*Click on the Tenderness Tour logo to donate to the 2024 Tenderness Tour! 

Richard, a paraplegic/double amputee born with spina bifida who beat both bladder and prostate cancer in 2023, will once again travel some of Indiana’s best trails in his most ambitious Tenderness Tour to date in an effort to eliminate medical debt for Hoosiers statewide.

It sounds daunting, doesn’t it? $1 million? WOW.

Undue Medical Debt, a national non-profit dedicated to eliminating medical debt, estimates that for every $1 donated, $100 in medical debt is eliminated.
That means:

• A $1 donation eliminates an estimated $100 in medical debt
• A $10 donation eliminates an estimated $1,000 in medical debt
• A $100 donation eliminates an estimated $10,000 in medical debt
• A $1,000 donation eliminates an estimated $100,000 in medical debt

Richard kicked things off with his own $1,000 donation and is challenging others to match or surpass his commitment.

1,000 donations of $1,000 will raise $1 million and eliminate an estimated $150 million of medical debt in Indiana.

Richard is asking individuals, churches, businesses, and organizations statewide to join him in this vital campaign. Whether you can afford $1 or $1,000 or more, every single penny improves the lives of Hoosiers.You can also start your own fundraiser in support of the 2024 Tenderness Tour by clicking on the “Fundraise” button and starting your own fundraiser with your family, church, or business. Every penny you raise will support the 2024 Tenderness Tour!  

2024 Tenderness Tour Itinerary 

• Pre-Tenderness Tour Events:
  September 7th, 2024: Officiate Wedding of longtime friend and Tenderness Tour Supporter Laura Cherne' in Carmel, IN
  September 8th, 2024: Preach at The Garden Community Church, 2720 East 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN at 9am 
   
• September 13th: Start at Lucas Oil Stadium; wheel around Terrace then head toward the Monon Trail and wheel into Carmel, IN 
  Road Crew: The Garden Community Church
  Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn, Carmel
  Event: Opening Prayer by Rev. Chris Henry, Second Presbyterian Church
              Meet with Adam Aasen and others, Carmel City Council, 3pm  
              Meet with Clearhealth Advocacy, 4:30pm
  Sponsors: Anonymous Sponsor (Hotel)
   
• September 14th: Drive to Kokomo. Wheel the Nickel Plate Trail from Kokomo, IN to Peru, IN (spending the night in Wabash)
  Road Crew: Jane Alexander
  Hotel: Holiday Inn, Wabash
  Event: Harvesting Capabilities Company Picnic, Peru, IN Canal Street Park 
  Sponsors:Anonymous Sponsor (Hotel)
   
• September 15th: Wheel the Nickel Plate Trail from Peru, IN to Rochester, IN
  Road Crew: Kimberly Koczan-Flory
  Hotel: Quality Inn, Rochester
  Event: Confirming Wabash, Indiana event. 
  Sponsors: Quality Inn of Rochester 
   
• September 16th: Drive to Elkhart County, IN. Wheel the Pumpkinvine Trail from Elkhart/Goshen to Middlebury, IN
  Road Crew: Erin Miranda-Patino
  Hotel: Das Essenhaus Inn (also meals)
  Sponsors: Anonymous sponsor for hotel stay     
                       
• September 17th: Wheel from Middlebury, IN to Shipshewana, IN on Pumpkinvine Trail
  Road Crew: Erin Miranda-Patino
  Hotel: Farmstead Inn and Conference Center
  Sponsors: Ben's Pretzels (In-Kind), Hotel stay sponsored by Abel, Alex, Lauren, Angelina, and Valerie Becker in memory of Sonny and Betty Kane
   
• September 18th: Drive to Sweetser, IN and Wheel the Cardinal Greenway from Sweeser, IN to Jonesboro, IN
  Road Crew: Rhonda Baker
  Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott in Muncie
  Sponsors: Lori Klimek (Hotel)
   
• September 19th: Wheel from Muncie, IN to Losantville, IN (or Economy depending on time/condition)
  Road Crew: Janette Burright-Smith
  Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott
  Event: Indiana Academy Students, L.A. Pittenger Student Center at Ball State University, 2000 W. University Avenue in Muncie. 
  Sponsors: Appearance sponsored by Indiana Academy Class of 1992, Hotel sponsored by Lori Klimek
   
• September 20th: Wheel from Losantville, IN to Richmond, IN
  Road Crew: Janette Burright-Smith
  Hotel: Hampton Inn, Richmond
  Event: Dinner/Speaking, First Christian Church
  Sponsors: First Christian Church, Richmond 
   
• September 21st: Drive to Indianapolis. Fountain Square Trailhead - Indianapolis Cultural Trail to Monument Circle for closing event. 
  Road Crew: Kelie Killu 
  Event: 10am brief gathering at Indy Reads (tentative); be at Monument Circle for "The Last Lap" open event from 1-3pm. The "Last Lap" is an Unofficial Yelp Event with Yelp Indy. Closing Prayer by Second Presbyterian Church 
  Sponsors:
  
  Additional Event Sponsors: DThornburg Diversions (Wheelchair Repair), The Garden Community Church, Duke's of Indy
  Media Coverage: Indianapolis Monthly (digital), Current in Carmel (print), Rick's Rambles (podcast), Yelp Indianapolis Elite Newsletter (newsletter/e-mail), K Elizabeth Toasts (podcast), Faithful Discourse (podcast), DDRS Digest (newsletter), Indiana FSSA EFRG Meeting (presentation), The Garden Community Church (presentation), WISH-TV 8 (broadcast), WISH-TV 8 (web), FSSA Hub (web), FSSA Links (web). Mirror Indy (Web)

As an extra special twist, the 2024 Tenderness Tour is being filmed for inclusion in an upcoming documentary on The Tenderness Tour. If you’re interested in joining Richard on the road or sponsoring meals or overnight stays, e-mail – tendernesstour@ameritech.net.

ABOUT RICHARD PROPES

Since 1989, award-winning activist/writer/minister Richard Propes has traveled over 6,000 miles in his wheelchair raising awareness and funds on behalf of organizations working to improve the lives of children and families on the remarkable event he calls “The Tenderness Tour.” 

Richard’s unique brand of grassroots activism has resulted in over $1 million raised for organizations serving families and children worldwide. Richard is the founder of the Race Away From Domestic Violence, a 5k event in its 21st year in Indianapolis, and has offered and produced a variety of events including a benefit CD, “Give a Girl a Chance,” along with poetry readings, concerts, an IndyFringe show, a comedy DVD, and much more. Richard is the author of “The Hallelujah Life” and is an award-winning film journalist and founder/publisher of TheIndependentCritic.com. Richard’s reviews are carried on Rotten Tomatoes and he’s a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association.

Richard has received numerous honors for his activism including Indiana’s Sagamore of the Wabash, Kentucky’s Order of Kentucky Colonels, and Prevent Child Abuse America’s highest honor the Donna J. Stone Award. Richard is a Jefferson Award winner and was recognized by Indiana Minority Business Magazine as a Champion of Diversity. Indy’s Heartland International Film Festival presents the Richard D. Propes Social Impact Award annually to festival films exemplifying Richard’s lifelong commitment to showing that one person can make a difference in the world. 

Richard’s effort to eliminate medical debt in Indiana continues his long-standing commitment to his lifelong home of Indiana. Richard still remembers the sacrifices his parents made raising a child with significant disabilities and costly medical expenses. As an adult, he’s experienced homelessness twice because of medical bills. Having survived cancer in 2023, Richard is more committed than ever to providing medical debt relief for Indiana families. 

Richard is available for speaking throughout the Summer and Fall in support of the 2024 Tenderness Tour. You can follow Richard on social media and get involved with the 2024 Tenderness Tour:

Facebook: @richardpropes
Instagram: @tendernesstour
Threads: @tendernesstour