Reason One Riders, Oakland Woods Baptist Church Motorcycle Ministry gathered at the church on July 31 for their first ever ‘Riding for a Reason Rally.?
According to OWBC Senior Pastor Bob Galey the charity they chose to bless was Fisher House.
‘Fisher House basically set up apartment complexes and large homes with multiple family housing next to major military hospitals. If a wounded or injured or any member of a military family has to be in a hospital for an extended period of time for rehabilitation or for treatment, the family can come and stay right next to the hospital for free,? he said. ‘Their belief is having the family near you is good for healing.?
The event included special guest Dave Barr who gave his testimony of being a war veteran and his 83,000 mile journey across six continents on a 1972 Harley-Davidson motorcycle with two prosthetic legs.
Dave Barr is just amazing, absolutely amazing,? Galey said. ‘I’ve never met anybody like him.?
Attorney General and Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Cox also showed up for the event.
‘We didn’t ask Mike to come, but Mike came because he was a former Marine, and he knew of Fisher House and when he found out we were doing it, he said ‘You mind if I come and just say a word?? I thought his comments were very appropriate and very un-political,? Galey said. ‘He just wanted to champion the cause.?
Cox said it was a ‘great event.?
‘As a Marine veteran and my daughter is a Marine veteran, this Fisher House is just a great thing to help families heal and veterans heal,? he said. ‘It’s an awesome idea.?
The ride included an escort to out to the freeway led by Oakland County Sheriffs, where they rode to Great Lakes Cemetery in Holly and Pontiac Veterans of Foreign War played taps and gave a 21 gun salute in honor of the soldiers.
Galey said the weather kept a lot of people away because some Motorcycle guys won’t ride if they think they’ll get rained on, but at the end of the day they were able to write a $5,000 check to Fisher House.
‘Reason One Riders is the one who did all of this and I was really proud of them and church members, I hope we have a reputation in Clarkston as church that’s always doing things for somebody else,? said Galey. ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve done something I think to directly help our veterans and their families.?