NORWICH – This Sunday, the American Legion Riders from the Lt. Warren Eaton American Legion Post 189 in Norwich will be donning their leathers and climbing onto their bikes to support yet another good cause. This time it is the Norwich Family YMCA’s Open Doors Scholarship Program which will benefit from the motorcycle club’s continued desire to give back to the community.
“We participate in over 15 rides each year,” said the ride’s organizer, Jerry Reyes, who is a member of both the American Legion Riders and the Y.
This cause is different from most the motorcycle group supports, he said, as most of their fundraising and awareness efforts benefit those with illness or disability.
“This is a ride to help people stay healthy,” explained Reyes, who said that he and his fellow American Legion Riders fully support the Y’s mission of building strong minds, strong spirits and strong bodies.
“Jerry thought this would be a nice event to benefit the many people who need the YMCA scholarship program to utilize the YMCA and its programs,” said Norwich Family YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen.
According to Mullen, between $85,000 and $100,000 has been allocated in scholarships during the last five years, helping as many as 600 people utilize the Y’s facility and services.
“The Open Doors Scholarship program is available to any person that wishes to utilize the Norwich YMCA through membership and or through programs. Scholarships are available for youth, adults, seniors and families,” he explained. “Many utilize this program for their membership privileges, but many also utilize the program to assist with family childcare, summer camp, swim lessons and more.”
The scholarship program is funded by donations, restricted contributions, the YMCA Reach Out to Your Community Annual Support Campaign and other events such as the fundraising ride, he said.
Registration for the ride will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday in front of the Norwich YMCA, 68-70 North Broad St. in Norwich. The cost to participate is $15 for each rider and $5 for each additional passenger.
Coffee and doughnuts will be provided, Reyes said, and community members are welcome to come see the bikes and take the opportunity to learn about the both the scholarship program and the YMCA itself.
During registration, the American Legion Riders will also be distributing a limited number of bicycle helmets to children in attendance and the organization plans to recognize a local resident with a Community Service Award, he reported.
At noon, the bikers will depart on an approximately 4 hour tour of northern Chenango and southern Madison Counties. This will include about 2 hours and 15 minutes of actual ride time, the event organizer said, with stops for lunch at Rosie’s Tuscarora Inn Restaurant in Erieville and dessert at Gilligan’s in Sherburne before returning to the Y.
Rather than a poker run as is the norm for many fundraising rides, the event will feature a dice roll at each stop, he explained. Trophies will be awarded for both the high and low roll following the ride, at which time door prizes will also be given out.
“We have some nice community participation in this,” Reyes said, commending the local businesses which have donated gift certificates and merchandise for the door prizes.
Reyes is predicting a large turnout for the ride in part because of the number of lives the Y touches each year, but also because of the promise of good weather.
“We should have a lot of bikes,” he said.
All motorcycles are welcome on the ride, which will take place rain or shine. For more information, contact Jerry Reyes at 316-5619 or the Norwich YMCA at 336-9622, ext. 0.