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Dave Havard, who lost his right leg, will ride in charity run in his benefit today.
Dave Havard sits on his motorcycle. He lost his right leg below the knee to diabetes but will lead benefit ride today.
Fred Adams/For The Times Leader
In April, when the Fraternal Order of Police began planning a charity motorcycle run to help long-time member Dave Havard with medical bills, the organizers never dreamed he’d be riding alongside them.
Havard, 59, of Wilkes-Barre lost his right leg, below the knee in April due to complications of diabetes.
“Doctors told me it could be up to a year before I was back on a motorcycle,” explained Havard. “I guess I proved them wrong.”
Havard said he spent two weeks in the hospital following his surgery and another 17 days in John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.
“I spent six hours a day on rehab at John Heinz,” stated Havard. “It was difficult work, but I was determined.” Havard said he was thankful to the staff at John Heinz as well as his family and friends for all their support during his rehabilitation.
Havard has been a member of the FOP since 1977 and has been organizing charity rides there or more than 20 years.
“I come from a long line of policemen,” said Havard, a retired long-haul trucker. “My grandfather was actually the police chief in Miners Mills in the 1950s before the merger.”
Event organizers expect more than 100 bikers for Saturday’s 60-mile ride through Nanticoke, Benton and Sweet Valley before returning to the FOP in Hanover Township for food and refreshments.
“Dave’s organized so many rides for so many people in the past that it’s just right to try and give a little back to him” said event co-organizer Don Scalfer.
Havard said he was recently fitted for a permanent prosthetic, but he will be riding with his temporary prosthetic on Saturday while he awaits his permanent replacement. He added he has already ridden Saturday’s route with several friends in preparation for the event.
“It felt great to be back on the bike,” he said.
“We were all surprised that Dave was walking so soon after the surgery,” said co-organizer, Frank Krupa of Hanover Township. “When we found out he was actually riding with us, we were astounded. He pushed himself, and in the process, he surprised a lot of people.”
Details you need
Ride starts at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 36, East Division Street, Hanover Township. Bikers leave around 12:30 p.m., return around 2 p.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m.