United Way motorcycle run
By Matthew Whittle
Published in News on October 28, 2007 2:00 AM
By MATTHEW
WHITTLE
News-Argus Staff Writer
Hoping to help the United Way make its fundraising goal before its Dec. 6 deadline, the R-Riders Motorcycle Club is hosting its first annual community ride today.
Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Cameron's Clubhouse on Ash Street. Riders will line up at 11 a.m. and will depart at noon.
The route is 102 miles long and will likely take slightly more than two hours. It will run from Goldsboro to Kinston, Greenville, Farmville, Walstonburg, Snow Hill and back to Cameron's Clubhouse for free food, soft drinks and door prizes.
Donations will be $10 per rider and $2 per passenger.
"We've been seeing a lot of people getting involved in United Way, but we've never known sport bikes to get involved. So we decided to be the first ones," club president Ricky Suggs said. "They help a lot of people."
He also is expecting a good number of people to show up today -- anywhere from 100 to 200 bikes from all over Wayne County and the region.
It is, said United Way campaign chairman Jimmie Ford, who is a biker himself, a welcome effort.
"They just came to the office one day and said they wanted to do something to help United Way," Ford said. "It lets you know there's a sense of caring, and we're happy to see that."
The United Way is facing a $1.46 million goal this year -- enough to improve the lives of 29,200 county residents.
Currently, though, Ford said, the organization is only about 50 percent of the way there.
He is hoping other organizations will step up like the R-Riders.
"We don't have a whole lot of time left. We're hoping the citizens of Wayne County will bring it on and help us meet that goal," Ford said.
Any other group interested in helping the United Way should call its William Street office -- located in the same building as the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce -- at 735-3591.