Bikers aid charity
Published: August 1, 2005
Chuck Burgess comes to Benjy’s Harley-Davidson at 408 4th Ave. at least once a week.
Admiring the view of the two-wheel, chrome-pipe beauties, he checks out what his next purchase will be while hanging out with friends he’s acquired on his frequent visits.
“It’s like a family,” Burgess said. “Benjy’s fantastic. He takes you in like he’s known you his whole life.”
On Sunday, Benjy’s hosted the 2006 Harley-Davidson New Model Introduction.
Benjy’s welcome mat for the viewing of the new rides brought a fierce crowd, all in the name of fun and a beneficial cause.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association benefited from the event. Customers buy a $10 ticket to come to the dealership and take a sneak peak at the new models. The four-hour event starts with a little food and music and ends in a hefty donation.
“Last year, $20,715 was turned in at the telethon,” said Lynn Rist of Benjy’s Harley-Davidson.
“Everything stays locally in West Virginia,” said Benjy Steele, president of Benjy’s Harley-Davidson, of the proceeds collected at the annual event. “It pays for some of the kids to go to summer camp, wheelchairs, transportation, medicine, facilities.”
Muscular dystrophy is any of several inherited diseases characterized by progressive wasting of the skeletal muscles. There are five main forms of the disease that are classified according to the age at onset of symptoms, the pattern of inheritance and the part of the body primarily affected.
Steele said the event, which also helps pay for leg braces and research, owes its success to the motorcycle fans that want a chance to see and feel the new additions. Onlookers aren’t allowed to test drive the bikes during the event, but select customers are chosen to drive the new bikes onto the lot. In addition to the complete re-engineering of the Dyna line, the motor company has produced six new 2006 models that were featured at the showing. The new bikes go on sale today.
“They’re all anxious to ride a bike in,” Steele said, “and it’s for a good cause. A lot of those kids will never get an opportunity to do what we do - to ride a bike and have the wind in their face.”
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: