More than two-dozen motorcyclists from British Columbia and Alberta descended on the Jasper Royal Canadian Legion, Aug. 3, as part of a national motorcycle relay to raise money for children who are visually impaired.
The Military Police National Motorcycle Relay started in 2009 as a way to promote friendship and camaraderie between military veterans and police officers from coast-to-coast, but quickly evolved into a fundraising campaign for The Military Police Fund for Blind Children.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the longest national relay in the world,鈥� said Lamont French, the British Columbia representative for the motorcycle relay. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about the children.鈥�
The group from British Columbia started in Victoria on July 31 and officially passed off the baton to a smaller, but enthusiastic group of riders from Alberta at the legion, Aug. 3.
With fresh riders, the group left Jasper the following morning for a dinner and silent auction in Edmonton.听
On Aug. 5, the relay continued eastward to Cold Lake, Alta., where they were met by fellow veterans, police officers and motorcycle enthusiasts from Saskatchewan.听
After taking a day off to relax and have some fun, the group carried on to Dundurn, Sask., Aug. 6.
The relay is expected to visit every province before ending in St. John鈥檚, N.L., on Aug. 23.
To participate in the relay, motorcyclists must pay a registration fee or raise money. Fees vary from $25 for a single day to $1,500 to ride from coast-to-coast. Riders always have the option of raising money instead of paying the registration fee.
鈥淚n eight years we鈥檝e raised about $450,000 nationally,鈥� said French.
鈥淥ne hundred per cent of the money raised goes towards the children. There are no admin fees.鈥�
One of the biggest groups that supports the relay year-after-year is the Blue Knights, a听 group of active and retired law enforcement officers who enjoy riding motorcycles.
鈥淢ost people get into law enforcement to help out and do good and a lot of us are retired or have moved onto other things and this is just a way to give back to the community,鈥� said Eric Larson, vice-president of the Alberta Blue Knights chapter, out of Red Deer.
The Military Police Fund for Blind Children specializes in assisting visually impaired children under the age of 21 and is open to any visually challenged child across the country who needs assistance.
Anyone who would like more information about the motorcycle relay or to donate contact French at [email protected] or Larson at [email protected].听
Paul Clarke [email protected]
