Mike Stafford says he has no idea how rumors got started that the 14th annual Greenfield Eagles Charity Ride, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, was canceled. But it didn’t come from him.
“We need to get the word out,” said Stafford, who has organized the event since its inception. “Someone put on Facebook that it’s canceled. It’s not canceled. It’s never been canceled.”
The ride is a fundraiser for the Highland County Society for Children and Adults and Stafford estimated that it’s raised $50,000 for the society in its previous 13 years.
“It’s to help the underprivileged people in the county, kids and adults,” Stafford said. “I talked to someone the other day who knew someone that had been in a motorcycle accident and needed a bed. They called the society and got a bed right away. That’s why we do it.”
The two-day event starts Friday with a live concert by Apt. B at the Greenfield Eagles lodge, located at 1275 N. Washington St., from 8 p.m. to midnight. It is open to anyone 21 or older and the cost is $5 per person. There will be food for sale.
Things crank back up with breakfast Saturday morning from 8-10 a.m. for $6 per person. Registration for the ride starts at 9 a.m. and the bikes pull out for a 100 to 120-mile ride at noon. The ride will start at the Greenfield Eagles, then will stop at the Bainbridge American Legion, Hillsboro Eagles, Wilmington Eagles and Washington C.H. Eagles before returning to Greenfield. At each stop ride participants will receive a poker card. Stafford said there will likely be a chance to buy another card or two somewhere along the ride. The top three poker hands at the end of the ride receive cash prizes.
The entire event is open to the public, and you don’t have to be on a motorcycle to take part in the ride.
“They can come in a car or if they want they can stack and bunch of people in a van, whatever,” Stafford said.
Stafford said the first ride had 68 vehicles and one ride had more than 500 motorcycles participating.
Admission for the entire weekend is $15 per person or $20 per couple. That includes the ride, camping, entertainment and games.
When they ride returns to Greenfield the IBA will be cooking pork tenderloin and there will possibly be other food vendors. There will be motorcycle games, door prizes, auctions, raffles and a 50/50 drawing.
Then from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday there will be another live concert featuring Salem’s Lot. Concert admission for those not participating in the ride will be $5 and you must be 21 or older.
Stafford said the plan is to have both concerts outside, but if it rains they’ll move inside the Eagles lodge. The ride will also be held rain or shine.
“We’ve only had it rain on us twice. One time we got pretty wet and one year it was kind of in and out. If it rains we just go,” Stafford said. “We’re hoping the good lord up there will look down on us and give us a break.”
There are six acres where primitive camping will be permitted and Stafford said those interested can bring a camper, motor home, tent or whatever.
The event is sponsored by Greenfield Eagles 1325. For more information call the Eagles at 937-981-4242 or visit www.facebook.com/greenfieldeagles.
Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or on Twitter @13gillilandj.
