August 24, 2010
Riders rev up for Mercy
By Matthew Claxton, Langley Advance August 24, 2010
With the summer almost over, it's time again for the annual Mercy Ride for the Homeless.
Motorcycle riders will gather this Saturday to go for a spin around Langley, and to raise money for the Gateway of Hope.
"We're expecting between 50 and 100 riders," said Gateway of Hope's Kelsey Eliason.
Members of the King's Riders, a Christian motorcycle club, will be helping out as marshals for this year's events. It was members of the club who first came up with the idea, and began the ride several years ago as a fundraiser to help get the homeless shelter and outreach centre built.
Since then, the ride has grown and attracted some politicians, such as City Mayor Peter Fassbender and MP Mark Warawa.
Riders may come from clubs or be individuals who like getting out on their bikes, but they all help out with raising money for the cause, Eliason said.
"Everyone's been really supportive," she said.
The ride begins at the Gateway at 5787 Langley Bypass, with breakfast and registration at 8:30 a.m., a tour of the shelter at 9:15 a.m., and departure on a two-and-a-half-hour ride at 10 a.m.
The ride ends at 12:30 p.m. at Barnes Harley-Davidson at 8859 201st St., where a barbecue lunch will be accompanied by music from the JC Celebration Band.
It costs $25 to register a bike and a rider, and $15 for a passenger. Lunch costs $5. For more info, go to www.mercyride.ca or call 514-7375.
mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
Read more: http://www.langleyadvance.com/news/Riders+Mercy/3436145/story.html#ixzz0yJnPmuxm
