Next Year, I'm Riding!

Yesterday was one of those days that leaves your heart and soul feeling happy and full. And I didn't have to step into a church or listen to a sermon to achieve such a lovely state. Instead, I started off my morning hanging out with several hundred bikers.

I like bikers. They're one of those easily stereotyped groups that often give you what you least expect, and yesterday was no exception. Hundreds of them turned out at the Camden riverfront on a cold and cloudy morning for the 2011 Ride for Autism Speaks. Our friends Doug and Mo started this fundraising event a few years ago to support the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization. The whole OBX spring break vacation contingent volunteered in the past and this year my family participated for the first time, joining  in this great cause and having a great time in the process:

• Mo, Rob, and Emily helped at registration
• Ian and his buddy Noah staffed the coffee station 
• Abby and her sister-from-another-mother Maddie sold duct tape bracelets and hair bows at their own booth (making $80!)
• And Dave, Dave, Karen and I manned the Iron Hill Brewery tent, giving away free hot dogs and chili to bikers who made regular jokes about the dangers of chili on a 60-mile ride to Atlantic City. I should note that they were also surprisingly concerned about getting chili on their clothes, despite the fact that 99% of them were wearing black.Who knew bikers were such neat freaks?

Our rough and tough and often scary looking biker guys and gals tipped generously for their healthy hot dog breakfast, bought duct tape bracelets in cool colors, and supported the ride with their registration fees. And not one of them used foul language, started a brawl, or terrorized a small child. So much for stereotypes. One thing I particularly enjoyed was a brief prayer led by a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association. These men and women looked no more angelic than their counterparts, but they shared their faith in Jesus Christ while asking the Lord to look after all the bikers on their upcoming ride. It was a very cool moment.

The most memorable experience of the whole morning, however, was "kickstands up," when Ben (Doug and Mo's son), gave the bikers the order to start their engines. Imagine hearing more than 500 motorcycles roar to life at one time, and watch them row by row filing out behind a police escort (here's a brief video clip!). They honked and waved while we volunteers cheered them on and thanked them for being part of this event which brought in more than $37,000 in donations.

I think my only disappointment of the morning was not having been prepared with a leather jacket, gloves, and a helmet. Next year, I'm jumping on the back of one of those bikes and riding along. Join us!

Ready with "Kickstands up"

P.S. If your life has been touched by someone with autism, I highly recommend Kathleen Deyer Bolduc's honest, humorous, and inspiring book, Autism & Alleluias. Her stories about life with Joel, her young adult son, will touch you!