I attend, without fail, fundraising for Salvation Army toy runs coast to coast in Canada, from St. John to Port Alberni.
The Port Alberni toy run in 2009 donated $40,000 worth of toys to the Salvation Army, and only had 1,300-plus motorcycles which filled the restaurants and businesses for three days.
I have attended Sturgis South Dakota and Sturgis Kentucky in the USA and was a regular at ECL’s Choppers for Charity. ECL Choppers for Charity in Calgary and Edmonton ran its final year last year. ECL had donated over $1 million to the children’s hospital in Calgary and Stollery Hospital in Edmonton over the last few years.
Sturgis Kentucky bike rally is also cancelled this year. I think some of the local businessmen should look at Sturgis Kentucky’s loss of their motorcycle rally and what it has done to business there.
Most of the bikers who attend these rallies are over 50, ride Harley Davidson’s worth $20,000 to $100,000 and more. They are not out to have their bikes damaged or to damage anything else. They are respectful to property and people.
Most are hard-working people and businessman and wear suits the rest of their lives when away from their bikes.
I am not a business or promoter of this rally, but do see the fundraising of millions of dollars by bike clubs and bike organizations across this country and around the world.
Enjoy the beautiful bikes, the cash coming into your community, the music and the fun from a week of bikes and see what comes into your community that is good. The Neskonlith see a good thing and are smart enough to take advantage of it.
Hop on the band wagon and get your share too!
Art Hayes
