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On Saturday, Sept. 19, there will be a special ride for Holly Petro of Hunlock Creek. Holly is a 24-year-old young woman who has faced incredible odds and keeps smiling. She was left paralyzed from the chest down in an automobile accident in late October of 2008 and is confined to a wheelchair.
So on the 19th there will be a ride to show support for her bravery. The ride will begin at CBX Man in Edwardsville. Parking and registration will be in the parking lot of the Welsh Baptist Church located next to the CBX Man parking lot on Main Street. Cost of the ride is $10 per rider and $10 per passenger. The ride winds through the Back Mountain and ends up at the Polish American Organization, aka the Polish Club, in Hudson. Maps will be provided on the day of the event. There will be blockers along the route to help with traffic control. This is a rain-or-shine event.
In addition to the ride, there is a whole weekend of events slated in Holly’s honor. “There’s a gallery opening featuring the work of national and international artists at Arts YOUniverse” on Friday, says Jim Gavenus. “The opening is being run in conjunction with the Third Friday Art Walk. Saturday is the bike run and Sunday is the Bell Tower Jam being held at Arts YOUniverse, beginning at noon, (which) will feature some of the best in bands: Joseph Arthur of Brooklyn, and local bands Cabinet, George Wesley, Plus 3, Fired from Rifles and Ronnie Williams.”
So why did we do all of this? According to Gavenus, “The reason we put this together is to help raise some money but to also show support for both Holly and her family.” Why such a big thing? “There are a lot of motorcycle runs and they do great work, but we wanted to make this something that the entire community can be a part of. So we have a little bit of the arts, little bit of the bikes and lot of music. Bikes, bands and art! We really wanted to have something for everyone and hope that everyone participates in every event. We’re hoping that people come over to CBX Man to send off the riders and watch the stunt riders perform during registration then stop by the end of the run in Hudson”
In addition to all of this, there is going to be a celebrity auction that runs the entire weekend, including donated items from Yoko Ono, Steven King, Jimmy Buffett, Chuck Palahniuk and Nils Lofgren to name just a few. These celebrities all donated stuff “just from phone calls and calling in some favors. From working in the music industry so long I’ve gotten to know people. Elvis Costello donated an autographed vinyl just from a phone call,” adds Gavenus, a photographer for various publications, including the Weekender. “There is lots of cool stuff. You’ll just have to come out and see for yourself.” You can check out the Holly Petro Fund Web site at www.thehollypetrofund.com.
The ride promises to be interesting and scenic. At the end of the ride, Gavenus says that there will be food and beverages and music provided for the riders and guests. So if you didn’t want to ride, you can join the fun for $10.
Just in case you don’t get enough of a ride on Saturday, be sure to come out for the Bikes for Tikes run on Sunday the Sept. 20. This annual event that benefits local children is being run by the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club. This will be a poker run-type of ride. Proceeds will buy bicycles for the underprivileged Children of Wyoming Valley this Christmas. Remember, “You’re never too young to be a biker!” This event really makes Christmas special for some of our local children who may not have much of a Christmas, especially in this economy.
For an entire weekend of events, this may be your best opportunity to get out and ride and listen to music. Two rides, music and three days of things to do in the W-B. My plan is to hit as many of these events as possible. And dudes, the Nils Lofgren CDs are mine!
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