| Although sometimes the public forgets, riders of | | | | have high hopes for the 2008 ride in the Southwest. |
| Harley-Davidson's and other motorcycles are people | | | | Not wanting to limit participation to beefy guys on |
| too. We have the same concerns and needs as | | | | their Harley-Davidson's, in 2007 they added the |
| anyone else and the same desire to help those less | | | | "Short Reach Short Riders" annual event. Teenagers |
| fortunate. There are dozens of biker-sponsored | | | | ride tricycles to raise money for LRLR charities. |
| charities out there including the few mentioned here. | | | | Love Ride |
| Bikers Against Child Abuse | | | | This charity goes back to 1981 when Harley-Davidson |
| Founder John Paul Chief Lilly is a Licensed Social | | | | became a Muscular Dystrophy Association sponsor. A |
| Worker and avid biker. Chief was trying to find a | | | | Harley-Davidson shop owner named Oliver Shokouh |
| way to help an abused eight-year-old boy and bring | | | | held two Biker's Carnivals in support of the MDA. The |
| him out of his shell of fear. He brought the boy into | | | | carnivals were only marginally successful as |
| his circle of biker friends and this boy opened up | | | | fundraisers so Shokouh and his friends came up with |
| over the next few weeks. | | | | another idea: the Love Ride. |
| In 1995, the first ride to help abused kids was held. | | | | The first ride in 1984 was a huge success. Not only |
| The event was such a success that new chapters | | | | did over 500 people show up, but these people |
| started springing up around the nation. | | | | included Peter Fonda, Robbie Krieger of The Doors, |
| This biker family exists to work with law | | | | and Willie G. Davidson, the grandson of one of |
| enforcement and the court system to help abused | | | | Harley-Davidson's original founders. |
| kids get the help and protection they need. They | | | | The annual ride has become more successful every |
| help raise money to fund therapy for abused children | | | | year, raising over twenty million dollars for the MDA, |
| that is often not covered by medical insurance. | | | | Special Olympics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and |
| Long Reach Long Riders | | | | many others. |
| One of the more recent biker charities, this | | | | Bikers all over the country are doing what they can |
| organization held its first ride in support of Broadway | | | | to give back to the community doing what they love: |
| Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in 2004. Since then they | | | | riding their bikes. They are raising money, helping the |
| have raised over $130,000 and have added another | | | | community, and spreading awareness of serious |
| charity, ESTA Foundations Behind the Scenes. | | | | problems. Although Hollywood loves to use the |
| They hold rides each year and success has | | | | bad-biker cliche, real bikers are doing what they can |
| skyrocketed. The 2007 ride through New England | | | | to make our world a better place. |
| raised more than double what 2006 raised and they | | | | |