16th Annual
Motorcycle Ride for Hattie Larlham
Despite
vague weather forecasts and passing dark
clouds, the 16th annual Motorcycle Run for
Hattie Larlham went off without a hitch.
At 1:45 p.m. Sunday, July
26, 300 motorcycles roared onto the asphalt
at Hattie Larlham as children, some holding
hand-painted signs, and staff cheered.
Rich Robinson, bike run co-organizer, welcomed
the bikers as they arrived.
The event was held on the south side of the building, outside
the new Life Achievement Center. A stage
was erected next to the building were the
day’s entertainment, the Chill played
as guests ate and mingled. A tent was set
up opposite the stage for sun-weary bikers
to get some shade and browse of the products
offered by Hattie’s
Café & Gifts.
As children from Hattie
Larlham took rides in motorcycle sidecars,
event volunteers sold tickets for a 50/50
raffle and entered guests in a drawing to
win a new Harley Davidson Sportster Nightster.
During a break from the
classic rock ‘n’ roll songs,
Hattie Larlham CEO Dennis
Allen thanked the crowd.
“Bless you for coming
out today,” Allen said. “Enjoy
being here with the kids.”
“It’s all
because of you,” Allen reminded the
crowd.
The 16th annual Motorcycle
Ride for Hattie Larlham raised $5,505 for
the 2010 Camp
Connect summer camp program. The camp
brings children with disabilities from Hattie
Larlham together with typically developing
kids from the community for a week of fun.
The ride was sanctioned
by the American Motorcycle Association and
sponsored in part by Stanley P. Aronson
& Associates Attorneys at Law and Carlton
Harley-Davidson. A portion of the proceeds
from the Summit County Motorcycle Events
Calendar was also donated.
Hattie
Larlham
Director
of
the
Annual
Fund
Mella
Castner
rode
in
this
year’s
event.
For
eight
years
Castner
worked
with
the
Greater
Akron
Motorcycle
Club
to
bring
the
event
to
Hattie
Larlham.
“It was much more
powerful than being onsite watching the
bikes roll into Hattie Larlham,” she
said. “It provided me with an opportunity
to experience everything first hand and
interact more with all the volunteers and
event participants.”
“But seeing
the smiles on the faces of our individuals
who live at Hattie Larlham reinforced why
GAMC, Kingdom Knights, Kings Kids, Righteous
Riders and others continue their dedication
for this annual event to benefit Hattie
Larlham,” Castner said.
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