COCHRANE— A duo of local realtors have launched a unique fundraiser to support Big Hill Haven.
Ken Morris of Royal LePage Integrity and Debbie Leah of Royal LePageAllstar partnered up to organize the charity motorcycle ride Ride 4 Her.
“I thought it would be really great to organize a bike rally that will include the riding community,” Leah said, adding that she hopes the event will draw local riders from Cochrane and the Calgary area. “The motorcycle community is very active in the bike rallies."
The fundraiser launched on Friday (May 22) morning and has already raised almost $5,000— The goal is to raise $15,000 altogether.
The event takes place on Saturday, June 6.
Leah said the motorcycle rally has been in the works since the end of 2019.
It seemed like a great opportunity to expand funding and bring in new supporters for Big Hill Haven.
Several events have already been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and many people were missing their opportunity to go on a journey together while raising funds for an important cause, she said.
Leah explained the Ride 4 Her organizers have modified the bike run to adhere to the COVID-19 provincial health measures. The rally is the perfect pandemic event because the fundraiser will follow the provincial health measures in place. If the pack has more then 50 riders join in it can break up and go for separate rides, she added.
The ride will go North up from Cochrane across through Sundre with a stop for a brown bag lunch at the Bearberry Saloon Bar & Grill then it’s off to Water Valley before heading back to town.
It is especially exciting, Leah said because they will have a photographer and drone videographer join in to document the journey.
Revving up his engine to become leader of the fundraising pack, retired motorcycle enthusiast Jim Messner has already raised more than $2,000 for Ride 4 Her since the event launched. He added that he is still looking to raise more funds for the charity ride.
Messner said he has been active in Cochrane since 1985 and is consistently impressed by the generosity of the community.
“I’ve just been blown away by how much support I’ve been able to raise,” Messner said. “There’s a lot of families doesn’t matter where you go somebody knows somebody that has need services of a women’s shelter. It’s a very important community organization.”
Messner heard abought the fundraiser from Morris and knew immediately he needed to participate. Messner will be riding a Honda Shadow 750 for the ride loaned by Morris.
For now, he is hoping for good weather during the scenic ride for a good cause.
“There’s nothing worse than being wet and cold on a motorcycle,” he said with a laugh.
Big Hill Haven fund development and public relations officer Tara McFadden said the non-profit is grateful for the Ride 4 Her charity ride.
“It’s so great to have the community support,” McFadden said. “It’s going to be a really good event.”
She said domestic violence was an epidemic before COVID-19 and it has seen a spike of more than 30 per cent since the world went into lockdown.
It is critical to get this community support because Big Hill Haven is donor-driven, she said. Every penny raised helps the organization move closer to its goal of creating a women’s shelter for the Cochrane area.
The funds raised by Ride 4 Her will support their operations, help domestic violence survivors in the community and lay the groundwork to start building the much-needed housing for those in need, she said.
People are going stir crazy with the restrictions put in place to survive the pandemic, and Ride 4 Her will be a great way for people to get out while helping an important community initiative, McFadden said.
The easiest way to participate or donate to the Ride 4 Her fundraiser is by visiting their Facebook page. Riders can register with a donation of $50 or a commitment to fundraise $100.
“This is way to get out, enjoy your bike, enjoy a great ride in support of a great cause,” McFadden said. “It really seems to have caught people’s imaginations.”
