TV Show Honoring Sons of Fathers Lost Serving the United States, "Sons of the Fallen," Begins Production in June, Seeks Corporate and Individual Sponsorship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Emmy Award-winning producer Conrad Ricketts, executive producer of ABC’s "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," executive producer Ryan Johnston, and co-executive producer/director Jack Cannon, former director of "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" and CMT's "Gone Country," announced today that production on “Sons of the Fallen”, a two-hour television special about 26 boys who lost their fathers serving our country, will begin June 14th – 21, 2009.

The show will follow the boys as they work through daily camp challenges together, climb the 14,000-foot Pikes Peak, and ride in NASCAR-style race cars.

“The impact of war as it affects our young people is a story that has yet to be told. ‘Sons of the Fallen’ gives voice to these young men and demonstrates the strength of character not only of the men and women who sacrificed everything for their country, but of the boys and families they left behind,” says Ricketts. “This is a chance for individuals and corporations to get involved and help these boys’ share their stories with each other and with the entire country.”

WCW & WWE Champion/NFL player, and actor Bill Goldberg, actor Ryan Merriman, and country music singer/songwriter Chris Cagle will join host Joey Truscelli (known to racing fans as Joey T), a Marine, former Indy race car team owner, and activist raising awareness for the U.S. military, as the boys work through a series of challenges and experiences, including a ride at the Pikes Peak International Raceway with nationally ranked RETAKS Drift Team, and X-Games snowmobile free-stylist Heath Frisby demonstrating his skills.

“This show is about creating awareness for the kids that our country’s heroes have left behind,” says Truscelli. “As a nation, we owe it to them to help them build confidence in themselves and move forward in life as brave and honorable young men. Ultimately, I think everyone involved in the show, from the sponsors to the crew and TV audience, will learn a great deal from these boys about fortitude and the strength of these young boys."

As host and producer of the family-values television show “One Good Turn with Joey T,” Truscelli has spent the past four years highlighting the charitable side of racing, like building a racetrack for young children with life-limiting diseases and giving them a chance to race their wheelchairs -- just like their NASCAR and INDYCAR Series heroes. It was through racing that Truscelli and many of his racing friends were able to help special people experience the sport from the other side of the fence while giving deserving fans the opportunity to realize a dream that created awareness for a cause.

The impetus for “Sons of the Fallen” began with non-profit organization Knights of Heroes, which started three years ago in Colorado Springs, Colo., to offer sons of Americans who died serving our country the chance to spend one week together exploring the outdoors and bonding with mentors and with each other.