The Brantford Lions Club is getting ready for its annual Ride to Thrive Motorcycle Charity Ride on Saturday, August 12, 2023.
The Lions Club hosts the event yearly to raise money in support of Participation Support Services and the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). All proceeds will be split evenly and donated between the two organizations.
For $35, riders of all motorcycles and three-wheelers alike, are welcome to participate in this year’s charity ride and pledge sheets can be found on the Ride to Thrive Motorcycle Charity Ride’s Facebook.
“The ride is not specific to any one kind of bike and we encourage everyone who rides a motorcycle and even those with three-wheelers to come out and join us,” said Tereca Ford, Vice President of the Brantford Lions Club. “It’s also an all ages event as well, so if parents want to bring their children, they’re certainly able to bring them on the ride as well.”
Participants are asked to meet in the parking lot of the West Brant Starbucks located at 320 Colborne St. West at 8:30 a.m. for registration. Members of the Brantford Lion Club, will be in attendance to assist with registration and to go over the day’s itinerary.
Riders will then head over to Participation Support Services located at 10 Bell Lane for a short tour around the Participation House at 9:45 a.m. before the ride officially kicks off at 10:00 a.m..
“We ask all riders to come through with us to Participation Support Services to wave at the residents of the home,” said Ford. “That we can let them know we’re here and this is what we’re doing to help serve them and they also love to see the motorcycles too.”
The ride will make five stops at various locations including Davidsons Sport in Norwich, Power Garage in Woodstock, Second Gear in Ayr, Brantford Motorcycle in Brantford, and Dual Sport Plus also in Brantford.
While there’s no set route participants have to follow, Ford suggests that riders make sure to attend each of the stops to get a signature on their Ride to Thrive passport to enter for a prize.
“People can choose the route that they wish to take and they can take it at their own ease,” she said. “However, we will be letting people know that there are certain stops that close early and we want to encourage riders to visit those stops first and then continue on whichever way they’d like to go before ending at the Naval Club by 2:00 p.m.”
Participants will then make their way to their final stop at the Brantford Naval Club located at 54 Wadsworth St. for both door and raffle prizes. Food and beverages can also be purchased from the Naval Club and a portion of that money will go towards the final donation amount.
Riders have the option to travel in the larger group, ride along in smaller groups or to take the drive solo.
