TURNER – Planners for the American Legion Legacy Run have announced the dates for the third annual motorcycle fundraising event from Indianapolis to the American Legion’s national convention in Phoenix Aug. 17 to 21.

Many of the participants from both the 2006 and 2007 runs are expected to return for the nearly 1,800-mile run.

American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser will kick off Legacy Run, which will begin with a national gathering of Legion Riders in Indianapolis. The riders will depart on Sunday, Aug. 17, for Phoenix and the 90th American Legion national convention.

The riders, many of them members of the American Legion family, will journey for five days to make possible a college education for the children of comrades who died defending freedom since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The goal is to raise at least $350,000 for the Legacy Scholarship Fund.

The fund has distributed $74,000 in scholarship assistance to students enrolled in college-level courses since 2004.

“The ride is open to all who are interested in supporting these children. We will pause along the way for rest stops, meals and other events and services arranged by American Legion posts,” Conatser said.

All who register for the ride receive the 2008 run patch set as well as a mapbook with information about routes, scheduled stops, timetables, daily maps and checkpoint locations.

“We encourage all interested Legionnaires and, indeed, all supporters to register in support of the run,” said Department of Maine Commander Paul L’Heureux, “to help us help the children of our fallen heroes.”

For more information, contact L’Heureux at [email protected] or call 754-6044.