Children of Fallen Riders – Magic Carpet Ride is  being held at Port of Blarney’s again this year on August 26th, 2012 – we are honored that the American Legion Riders will be assisting us with our run this year, with flags flying proudly.

The run will have one stop this year, a scenic route through-out Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, stopping at Player’s Park South for a 50/50 drawing.

If you haven’t caught up with us on facebook, please friend us on there, and help us continue to spread the word about Children of Fallen Riders.  Your support keeps us going!

A special Thank You to the Lack Family once again, helping us – Shawna got us involved with a program with Kohl’s and volunteers!

Each little bit helps – anyone out there that would like to go after the Trib Local they have a quarterly contest and you can nominate a charity to win 500.00, I just haven’t had the time to investigate it further.

If anyone hasn’t had a chance to watch the video’s from our Winter Event,  they are below.  Check out the video post on facebook dated January 16th,  of all the bikes leaving the Port of Blarney last year, come join us and make us that much stronger, and let’s make the video of the bikes leaving this year, 15 minutes long!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQYtsyaT4cE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zwnIhxq_sg

You begin to shake from a place you didn’t know existed and your mind races like a car on the autobahn.   There is also another ground shake that vibrates and resonates up your feet and legs and lands smack dab in your heart.  It is the sound of 500 plus motorcycles and people coming together to support a “cause”.

We thank each and every one of you out there that has come out the last several years to support our “cause” and ask that you join us in supporting another cause that many are not aware that exist.  We would like to introduce you to Nadja and Office Terry a team that is out there when most of us are in panic mode.

Nadja is a specially trained K-9 Unit that works in our area and is called out through-out Illinois to help locate missing children, Alzheimer’s patients and is trained to track gun-powder resin.   Nadja is available to us through 100% donations, her training and housing is supplied out of the passion that Terry has for what he calls “The Spirit Of The Law” – I met Terry when Leathers 4U helped design and provide Nadja with her Kevlar Vest that protects her when she is called out to do her job.

Tim and I got to sit down with Terry yesterday and understand more about what it is she does and what it is that Terry is all about.  I can only say, what an AMAZING TEAM!

“The Spirit Of The Law” is what drives Terry on a daily basis, I can not even come close to writing how this team makes a difference that so many are unaware of.  I can only ask that you come out and hear and see it for yourselves on June 10th. 

Terry explained to Tim and I yesterday about a recent child that had gone missing, as he spoke, he spoke as if this child was his own, he went into a seek and find mode that is best left served hearing from him. As he began explaining the process, his eyes became intense, and his entire demeanor changed, in my mind’s eye, I pictured myself in a “mother’s panic mode” one that I can not even fathom, to have someone like Terry with a partner like Nadja that has capabilities that assist us in our darkest hours.

Come out and support those that are helping support us.  June 10th – Bikers For Barkers Run to keep Nadja sniffing us to safety!

May God Bless you all and Thank You so very very much.

Peace and Love,

Joff

Rt 12. Bar & Grill for some awesome hamburgers and good company! If you are looking for something to do – Rt. 12 is having a bike blessing on April 29th, 2012, along with a steam wash and just lots of good food & music! Contests, Daily Specials, and lots of summer events coming up.

A1-American Tee’s has also just launched a line of shirts called the Bone Yard Brothers donating proceeds to Children Of Fallen Riders.

If you are new to the area, or if your friends are busy and you just want to get out and ride, join the team at Rt. 12 Bar & Grill on Sundays at 11:00 am, and take a ride! No matter what you ride, just ride!

A1-American Tee’s is based out of Florida and Don came into my life as so many do, a simple email, with an idea to “team” up.  Don @ A1-American are Top Quality in all senses of the word.  Take a minute to walk through the site and continue to support our efforts by supporting those that support us!

We take for granted our driving privileges, I had no idea at the time the impact that statement would have on me in the future and running this charity.

Danny Mauro – 5/2-1965 – 6/26/2011 – was victim of the carelessness of another – we recently helped out Danny’s wife and in her words she said – Thank you for all you do for the families who have to suffer such a loss of a loved one, in most part due to the carelessness of others.

We get emails and requests that always have an impact on us.  From Danny’s children,  Jesse, Brianna, Kaysie and Daniel we ask all of you to drive safely as the spring approaches.

There is no immediate need to frantically search for a cell phone to answer a text or a call.  I admit, I have been guilty of it before,  but maybe if we picture Danny, or if we think of his wife and children who were left behind.  Our decision will be different.

Do not let yourself be the reason that someone get’s a call that turns their life upside down.

More video clips will follow of the entire evening.  Once again, thank you all !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzG318sn-2g

I have said it before, I will say it again…….what you do is GREAT.

I lost my Dad to a driver who needed gas more than she needed to pay attention to the road. She killed him. I was only 4 at the time. All my life I have asked questions about him. I didnt even know his real name!

Not one person in my family wanted to tell me anything about him other than he was a “biker” and “you know how they are”. NO!!!! I DIDNT KNOW “HOW THEY ARE”!!!!!! I do now. Three years ago at the age of 30 my life took plenty of twists and turns. One that I was unsure about hearing after hearing all this negative stuff about bikers as I grew up. God brought me to a set of circumsatnces that allowed me to get closer to finding out who my Dad really was. Through luck, bravery, God and my ability to be a stubborn Irish woman, I finally met my Dad’s biker friends. As it turnes out, this Summer is the 30th year they have made a 400 mile, all weekend run, in his name. I have gone two years now. I love my Dad’s club.

They are more family to add to my tree. They still love my Dad all these years later. They love me, call me family and have promised to help fill me in about my Dad. Everytime I am with these guys my face hurts form the sheer size of my smile. We visit his grave, they cry with me. I am very lucky to have my biker family. I asked my teen boy what he thought of bikers before he met these men. He did admit to going along with the idea that anything “biker related” must be bad. But he is very happy to have had the opportunity to spend time with them and see just how great they are.

I am truly thankful for what you do here. Maybe there is some four year old little girl who lost her Dad. Maybe her and her Mom struggle to keep things going. Maybe you guys have offered a helping hand. Maybe she wont grow up thinking her Dad died and nobody cared. You guys prove to so many that someone does care. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. If I ever find myself in a financial position to help you, I will.

Raffle Ticket Options

1 Ticket $5.00 USD 3 Tickets $12.00 USD 5 Tickets $20.00 USD

A woman walked through the doors at Leathers 4U before our Winter Event, she came in with a donation for our raffle.  Then a week later, she came in with more items for our raffles.    A lady with such a big heart! Just wanting to help a cause they believe in.

These donations always help us with each event, I always say a million dollars in quarters is still a million dollars.  This woman and her husband came to the event and bought a raffle ticket for the autographed bar stool of Anthony Gomes & Tallan Noble Latz.

They won the bar stool, and they were so excited because they just love Anthony & Tallan! Jessica came in to pick up the bar stool last week, and just adored it…later that afternoon, her and her husband came back in the store with their daughter and they “gave” back the bar stool.

Why? Because they want us to continue to raffle off the stool to get more money for the charity.  Thank you to this family for your support and your genuine generosity!

We are auctioning this stool off! Get your tickets now, this  will be a collectors item someday! With the signatures of two very awesome guitar players, that Children Of Fallen Riders introduced.  Anthony Gomes and Tallan Noble Latz. We will pull tickets on July 3rd, 2012 in honor of Anthony’s Birthday!

Winner will have to pick up bar stool at Leathers 4u – or if you are out of state pay for the shipping charges once the raffle is over!

I would like to say thanks to Landmark Aviation for coming out and supporting us this past weekend.  I met Josh Lewis through Mike & Shawna Lack (some of our biggest & strongest volunteers) and Josh and I emailed back and forth with his desire to help Children Of Fallen Riders.

Landmark Aviation came through with flying colors (no pun intended) and left us a little speechless with their generosity! With this group, speechless is a little tough to do at times.

It is sponsors such as this that continue in helping us grow.  Many people ask “what can we do to help?” You can spread the word, and make sure that you bring friends & family to the events to see what we are all about.  You can help through-out the year by passing along the word of what we do.  You can like us on facebook at Children Of Fallen Riders and ask people to donate – a million dollars in quarters is still a million dollars.

We had a blast meeting new people this weekend, and spending time with old friends. Tallan Noble Latz did a screaming rendition of the star spangled banner and than Redline Blue’s Band kicked off the night with those smokey old blues tunes.  Fast Times The Band came on and brought us back to the 80′s.  Than we brought back a little bit of the 50′s with Elvis on stage, what a man! Eve to Adam straight from New York and through the snow storm in Ohio came on next and pumped up the crowd.  Anthony Gomes Band as always wooo’ed the crowd with their 3 piece band entertained us and sent an electricity up through the floor that vibrated right into your soul.

Thank you for your support, continue to pass along what our cause is about to each and every person that you can share our story with.

The planning stages are the foundation for a succesful event, we have the best volunteers and supporters, and I just wanted to say.. THANKS IN ADVANCE !