As the 13th annual Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America embarks Saturday (July 14) on a seven-day, 2,800-mile trek down the East Coast, the familiar colors of SunTrust Bank will be riding along for the third consecutive year as proud sponsor of the popular fundraiser benefiting the Victory Junction Gang Camp and other children’s charities.

Since its inception, the Charity Ride has raised more than $9 million for countless numbers of causes as more than 5,350 riders, including NASCAR celebrities, ride sponsors and motorcycle enthusiasts, have logged more than 45,000 miles covering various routes all across the U.S.

This year’s route begins Saturday in Bar Harbor, Maine, will make overnight stops in Woodstock, Vt., Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Gettysburg, Pa., Hot Springs, Va., Augusta, Ga., St. Augustine, Fla., and concludes July 20 in Hollywood, Fla.

SunTrust will officially welcome riders into Augusta on July 18 with a host of activities and promotions through the Augusta- and Thomson-area branches. SunTrust clients will be offered an exclusive opportunity to serve as grand marshal of the ride through Augusta, as well as the chance to meet veteran NASCAR driver and event founder Kyle Petty and other celebrity riders.

“The Kyle Petty Charity Ride has become one of the most exciting and most anticipated charity events on the racing calendar each year,” said William Thompson, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank, Augusta. “We at SunTrust are extremely proud to welcome riders to our city for the first time and enable our customers and the surrounding community to help the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the many charitable causes that benefit from it.”