Story by Uwe Wachtendorf

Three rallies in three weekends

Nestled among the beef jerky salesmen and aromatherapy vendors of every motorcycle show are the booths promoting charitable rallies. The variety and number of the causes that they support appear to double with every passing year, something that has left me scratching my head; are rallies such a popular pastime, or have motorcyclists become a rich vein for fundraisers to mine? Having only ever participated in one charity rally – twenty-five years ago, when the novelty of riding in a large group had piqued my interest – it was clearly time to revisit the fundraising scene and see what all the fuss was about.

With a plan to fully immerse myself in rally culture, I foolhardily signed up for three rallies over three weekends. Not only did they span the extremes of size and history, but each of their causes was of personal significance to me.

Familiar with the hardships of military life abroad and the importance of a nation supporting its troops, I chose the Heroes Highway Ride and Rally (HHR) as my first outing. Now into its third year, the free-to-participate HHR takes a non-traditional approach to rally fundraising. Lou DeVuono, along with members of the Perfect Pigs motorcycle club, founded the rally on the premise that it’s not only important to raise money for a worthy cause, but also to support Canadian troops. “While there’s been a huge outpouring of support for our fallen soldiers, Canadians were not providing the same for those returning from a tour of duty,” explained DeVuono. “We made the HHR a free event because you shouldn’t have to pay for the opportunity to support our troops.”

Organized on a tight budget with little publicity, the inaugural HHR in 2009 still managed to draw 180 motorcyclists. However, in just one year the event had grown exponentially, and in 2010 it attracted 1,600 motorcyclists and 2,500 rally visitors. The unexpected turnout overwhelmed organizers, but also made DeVuono aware of the rally’s importance. “By bringing the public and military together, the rally demonstrates firsthand that Canadians care and are supporting these brave individuals,” he said. “It also gives soldiers a chance to share their stories, which is a great morale booster.”

The HHR kicks off with a welcome party for long-distance visitors the night before the ride. The following morning, a pre-ride breakfast sets the stage before riders depart on a police-escorted parade past CFB Trenton and along the Highway of Heroes (Highway 401 between Trenton and Toronto). The ride ends at the rally site, which features vendors, stunt demonstrations and live bands.

The charity aspect of the HHR depends on voluntary donations from participants, which go to National Portraits of Honour, the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre, and Wounded Warriors, a registered Canadian charity that supports troops suffering from operational stress injuries and transports injured soldiers receiving medical therapy. The HHR also collects non-perishable food items for the food banks servicing the communities that host the event.

My motorcycle for all three rallies was Harley-Davidson’s new Blackline, a bare-bones Softail that doesn’t have enough room to carry a toothbrush. Aside from an uncomfortable seat, it turned out to be an excellent choice, even though I had to carry everything in a backpack. With space at a premium, I left my rain gear at home and foolishly relied on the weatherman’s prediction of isolated showers. The decision set the tone for the day; within ten minutes of my arrival at the start point, the thick grey carpet that hung overhead opened and riders everywhere scrambled to the sides of buildings to keep dry.

Allowed to ride in the HHR spearhead, I formed up behind an escort OPP officer whose gold helmet was emblazoned with “Happy Gilmore.” Before I could ask him whether he was a lousy hockey player, a haphazard golfer, or had been in a fistfight with Bob Barker, the ride set out. Within a kilometre, cold water began to soak my crotch, while a steady trickle filled my boots; it felt like I was slowly wading into an icy lake.

Although the misery of being cold and wet sapped my enthusiasm, my spirit was lifted by the sight of the colour guard waiting for us at CFB Trenton and by the many waving onlookers that lined the sidewalks and bridges of our route. I was not the only one suffering from the conditions, and attrition began to take a toll as more and more riders broke away from the parade, either to head home or to find shelter from the elements. Barely able to move my fingers, I finally bade farewell at the off-ramp to the rally site.

Although my first rally experience had been a literal wash, the inclement weather wasn’t enough to prevent the HHR from experiencing more monumental growth. DeVuono estimated that around 3,000 bikes started the ride in Belleville and that over $30,000 was raised this year by the event.

Without any chance of rain, I looked forward to the Ride for Sight (RFS), a goliath charity ride that is the envy of all other fundraisers. It was the thirty-third iteration of the ride in Ontario, making it the longest-running event of its kind in Canada. MMM

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