Get on your bikes and ride! On May 4, motorcycle enthusiasts will roar through the streets of Lethbridge, as the Southern Alberta Bikers hosts its annual Motorcycle Awareness and Teddy Bear Parade.
Dallas Harty, president of the local organization, says the event encompasses two purposes. The event is held to raise awareness about the return of motorcycles on the roads in the spring and to acquire teddy bear and toy donations for the children’s ward at the Chinook Regional Hospital.
“We’ll hopefully get some attention, people can come out and see all the bikes and just to raise awareness for both events,” says Harty. With motorcycles sharing the streets once again with other motorists, “motorcycles are a little bit harder to spot than your average vehicles.”
Harty notes the Awareness Parade is synonymous with the motorcycle community and the Teddy Bear Parade is well over 30 years old. Parade participants can fuel up for the ride at Honkers Pub for an early bird breakfast at 8 a.m. and the parade starts at 10 a.m. Motorcyclists will travel to various areas of the city during the ride to help raise awareness.
“If people want to make donations, they can message us on our Facebook page or they can also meet us at CRH the day of the event,” says Harty. Donations can also be dropped off at Honkers Pub, prior to the start of the parade.