Hot Shot’s Secret, the fastest growing performance lubricant brand in the U.S., is increasing the company’s support of Waypoint Vets in 2022 with a $50,000 fundraising match. The match is effective throughout 2022 and is a significant increase over last year’s match donation. Waypoint Vets Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the mission of uniting and empowering U.S. military veterans through activities and adventure.  

The organization is the brainchild of Sarah Lee, an Army OIF combat veteran that deployed to Iraq with the 216^th Combat Engineers under the 1^st Infantry Division in 2004. Joining at age 17, she served eight years and was honorably discharged as an E5 Sergeant in 2009. After completing a 4,000-mile cycling journey of healing across the United States, she felt compelled to bring opportunities for veterans to bond and heal through unique adventures without personal expense. 

Since the company was founded in 2019, over 60 veterans have participated in fun, grueling and diverse events such as canyoneering in Utah and Lake Powell, or tackling the summit of Mount Rainier in Washington, or fitness retreats in the Smokey Mountains and along the white sand beaches of Destin, FL. Currently there are 200 veterans that have signed up to participate in future trips. 

Chris Gabrelcik, owner and founder of Lubrication Specialties Inc., manufacturer of Hot Shot’s Secret high performance fuel and oil additives and specialty oils and fluids, says, “Sarah is a person of determination and grit. We are very pleased to increase our match this year to bring more opportunities for veterans that are seeking the opportunity to reconnect with a challenging commission to facilitate camaraderie and bonding like they experience in their service years.”

Eight events are planned for 2022. The year’s fundraising kicks off April 30^th with the 2^nd Annual Waypoint Vets Motorcycle Ride with Combat Vets Motorcycle Association and Rolling Thunder. Ride registration begins at 8:30am at the Elks Lodge in Gallatin, TN. “Kickstands up” is at 10:30am, and the ride will conclude at Yazoo Brewing Company in Madison, TN. The Fundraiser begins at Noon with the singing of the National Anthem, a POW/MIA/KIA table ceremony, a 21-gun salute, and the playing of TAPS. There will be live music, craft beer, and delicious local food trucks.   

Adventures planned for 2022:

1. Nama-Stay Veteran Retreat, Utah – Jan 6 – 10, 2022
2. Canyoneering & Backpacking, Utah – April 19 – 25, 2022
3. White Water Rafting, South Carolina – May 28 – 31, 2022
4. Summiting Mount Rainier, Washington State – June 14 – 18, 2022
5. Middle East Conflict Memorial, Illinois – August 2022
6. Women Veteran Retreat in Destin, Florida – September 2022
7. Medal of Honor Heritage Center Trip, Tennessee – September 2022
8. Women Veteran Retreat in Gatlinburg, TN – October 2022

Waypoint Vets plans the adventures, provides the gear, and covers all the costs of travel, meals, and lodging and offers a variety of activities to accommodate a wide range of fitness levels.

Lee says, “Chris Gabrelcik believed in my vision and invested in both inspirational and tangible ways, making it possible for Waypoint Vets to become an operational reality. Three years later and I am amazed at how it has changed the lives of so many men and women Veterans that were needing this type of experience. It can be very difficult transitioning to civilian life or navigating life without that structure and clear purpose in place. All who have had the opportunity to be involved these past few years in adventure trips, fundraising events and community outreach, are deeply grateful for Hot Shot’s Secret’s support. Their continued support is making it possible for us to actively combat Post Traumatic Stress, Military Sexual Trauma, and offset the 22 veteran suicides we incur every single day.”

For more information about Waypoint Vets’ mission, visit www.WaypointVets.org. To sign up for one of their upcoming adventures, fill out the Veteran Sign Up Form. The trips are open to Honorably Discharged U.S. Military Veterans of any branch of service.