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Motorcyclists Hope Ride Makes A Difference

Motorcyclists Hope Ride Makes A Difference

May 01, 2007

Motorcyclists from across the state will participate in a 53-mile ride to help the boys and girls living at Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina’s (BCH) Mills Home in Thomasville. The “Country Legends Ride” is raising funds to ensure the boys and girls in BCH’s care have much to look forward to this summer. The money will send the children on a trip to Paramount’s Carowinds amusement park outside of Charlotte as well as fund additional fun summer activities.

Wayne Felker, longtime motorcyclist and first officer of the High Rock Lake chapter of the Southern Cruisers, is very familiar with BCH’s Thomasville-based residential campus. He has ridden in the annual Bikers Toy Run sponsored by the Randolph County Concerned Bikers Association where motorcyclists bring Christmas gifts to the children living at Mills Home. Felker knew there was room for an additional ride.

“We want to help these children during the summertime just as the toy run helps them at Christmas,” Felker says. He and his fellow Southern Cruisers are organizing the event. Southern Cruisers is a national family-oriented motorcycle riding club.

Felker expects between 500 and 1000 motorcycles. Motorcyclists will leave from Wal-Mart in Lexington at 2:00 pm and travel a 53-mile police-escorted route arriving at Mills Home in Thomasville around 3:30 pm. The Davidson County Sheriff’s Department, Thomasville City Fire Department, Lexington City Police Department, Denton Police and Fire Departments and Healing Springs Fire Department are all lending their time and resources to ensure safety.

Felker says the ride could not happen without the help of sponsors. He has been overwhelmed by the generosity of businesses and organizations that have stepped up to help.

“It’s amazing to see all these sponsors come together,” says Felker. “Businesses across the area have allowed us to put up posters to help spread the word. And all of our area Harley-Davidson dealers are right there together to support this ride and the children.”

Gary “Poochie” Cox, owner of Cox’s Harley-Davidson in Asheboro, says bikers particularly enjoy the rides benefiting Mills Home because they are able to greet the children. “You can tell the boys and girls genuinely appreciate what the biker community is doing,” he explains. “Whenever all the bikers pull into the campus, it brings a smile to the children’s faces. The ride is as meaningful to the bikers as it is to the children.”

Triad area radio station Country Legends 98.3 FM is a lead sponsor and has donated on-air advertising. INNCOMM, Inc. based in Greensboro, the largest Sprint/NEXTEL communications dealer in North Carolina, and Thomas Built Bus Company Local UAW #5287 in High Point have made contributions. Other sponsors include Wal-Mart in Lexington, Harley-Davidson dealerships including Cox’s in Asheboro, Curley’s in Winston-Salem, Tilley’s in Salisbury, and H-D of High Pont and Greensboro. Whitley’s Restaurant of Lexington is providing food for the event and Christian music group “The Following” will perform. Motorcycle enthusiast and Fox 8 WGHP sports broadcaster Rich Brenner is participating in the ride.

BCH helps children overcome the challenges in their lives. Some children are victims of abuse and neglect; others are desperate to overcome feelings of anger and hopelessness. According to BCH Thomasville Area Family Services director Lynn Garner, events such as the motorcycle ride go a long way towards helping.

“It’s such an outpouring of people who want to help,” Garner says. “The children can’t believe these adults that don’t even know them care for them that much.”

Since 1885, Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina has helped children and families in crisis. BCH began with one campus, Mills Home in Thomasville, but now provides services in communities across the state.

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