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A ride for hope.
By Nick DeCondio
There are many reasons to
participate in a charity ride. Open road, new
friends, old riding buddies, good music and even better food.
Sometimes the story behind the ride can make it all mean
so much more as Clutch and Chrome contributor,
Nick DeCondio
found out.
There are
many sayings about them.
Children are our future.
It takes a village to
raise a child.
One generation plants
the tree; the other gets the shade.
Of course there are the
less pleasant sayings such as children should be seen
and not heard, but that would be for another article.
Society knows its our
responsibility to protect our children. But sometimes
there are circumstances beyond any parent’s control,
wishes or even dreams. Thankfully, when unfortunate
events do happen there is help.
Shriners Hospitals
for
Children is a network of 22 pediatric hospitals in the
U.S., Canada and Mexico providing specialized care for
orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and
cleft lip and palate.
They have been providing state-of-the-art care for more than 80 years,
with a network of pediatric specialty hospitals focus on orthopaedic conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord rehabilitation, and cleft lip and palate repair.
While they provide
high-quality care, the hospital is is free for qualified
children. Without insurance payments or funds from government
agencies, the organization looks to donations to survive.
 On Sunday August 19,
some bikers pulled together to help this worthy cause. The
Melha Riders had
their first Motorcycle Hospital Run in the New England area, starting
at Suburban Chevrolet in Southwick, Mass, to the Shriner’s
Hospital then onto the after party at the Salty Dog Saloon in
downtown Springfield, Mass.
Talk about a great first run,
there were hundreds of bikers (469 to be exact) who
participated for a great cause. Even the weather cooperated,
although a little on the hot side it cooled down
nicely once we
got riding. The ride was so popular, there were bystanders on the side
of the road cheering us on throughout the ride.
By the time
we arrived at the Salty Dog Saloon food was already cooking up
on the BBQ, getting ready for a lot of hungry bikers. We
were greeted by music as well with not only a band playing outside,
but also later inside the hall Shovelhead, a well
known band in this area played into the night.
To help raise more money,
tickets were being sold for the grand prize of a bright red 1962 Ford F-100.
Sure it was a cage, but a beautiful looking one, and all the proceeds
benefited the Springfield Shriner’s hospital.
An example of the wonderful
work the Shriners Hospitals perform.
An before and after picture.
Wish you could have been
there? Don't worry, next years ride date has already been set
for
August 17, 2008. I was so personally moved by not only the
great work the Shriners Hospitals do, but also the huge
riding a non-riding support shown by everyone for this ride.
So much so, we should all take a pledge to make next year's
event even better.
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Won't listen to an old
biker? Take some time to read a few of the stories and view
the pictures of the children they've helped. Surely you'll
be there if at all possible.
At
this point I would like to thank the bikers, volunteers and
all the sponsors that made this day special.
So for all the two and three wheelers of the world, freedom
surrounds you wherever you go. Lay a path of new tracks for
future riders to follow their dreams.
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Kim, Johnny, Missy and Al
Click to Enlarge |
Chevediamo
Nick DeCondio
Page One of Nick's Photos from the
ride
Page Two of Nick's Photos from the
ride
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