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Richard ends 2024 by raising over $100,000 to Eliminate Medical Debt in Indiana

Award-winning Indianapolis activist Richard Propes went back out on the road from September 13-21, 2024 for a 150-mile 2024 Tenderness Tour raising over $100,000 to eliminate debt for Indiana families. 
*Click the "Donate" button to support the Tenderness Tour's effort to eliminate medical debt. 

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 was filmed for inclusion in an upcoming documentary on The Tenderness Tour. 

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

About the Tenderness Tour

Since 1989, Indianapolis activist Richard Propes has wheeled nearly 5,000 miles raising thousands of dollars in what he calls a grassroots effort to create a kinder, more inspired world through The Tenderness Tour. This is his story.

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5115 Devon Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46226
tendernesstour@ameritech.net