FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD)- April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, and in a fitting move, the Fort Worth Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse, known as B.A.C.A., will host its first ever regional awareness event. It's called Ridin' for a Reason and it is on for Saturday, May 1, rain or shine!
"The benefit is for us to raise funds for our chapter to support our heroes," says Attica, community liaison for the chapter. "We do a lot of work with them and throw activities for them. This benefit will help us raise funds to support those activities."
B.A.C.A.'s mission is to create a safer environment for abused children. Members say being part of the organization and visiting with the heroes involved is incredibly rewarding.
"Sometimes it's just as simple as seeing a smile on a child's face while we're visiting them," says Culvert, president of the chapter. "And seeing a tear in their parent's eyes because that's the first time they've seen them smile in months."
"We attended a court case where one of the B.A.C.A. kids had to give an impact statement," says another B.A.C.A. member. "He was abused by a male neighbor, and was very scared of this guy. And he would not give an impact statement at the sentencing without us in the room. With us in the room, he was able to read his impact statement … a ten-year sentence later, he left the courtroom making fist pumps in the air. He would have never been able to that unless there were 15 pretty badass looking bikers in the gallery that were his friends."
The Ridin' for a Reason event's main attraction is a Poker Run that will begin at 9:30 a.m. at American Eagle Harley Davidson on Saturday, May 1. It's open to all interested participants, you don't have to ride a motorcycle to make the run. The event will also have food and live music and other opportunities to donate to the cause.
"One hundred percent of what you donate goes directly to our kids," says Attica. "Just come on out and participate, come on out and have a great time."
Attica says the event will happen, rain or shine. More information about Ridin' for a Reason can be found here. Click here to register for the event and here to donate online.