ORWIGSBURG - Seventy-seven motorcycles took off from Schaeffer's Harley-Davidson as the bikers started their trip Saturday morning to the Ride for Life charity event in Bethlehem. The two-day event is held at SteelStacks campus and is the cumulation of a yearlong effort to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The local dealership has participated in the fundraiser every year since it's beginning 27 years ago.
"It's for a good cause," Dennis Schaeffer, co-owner of the dealership with his wife, said many times while announcing each of the 34 participants who raised $1,000 or more. For every $340 raised, a participant received a chance to win a motorcycle.
The dealership's goal this year was to raise $250,000. With late checks and donations at the event still to come, a total of $238,546.47 was raised as of Saturday morning.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and limit mobility. While the disease affects adults, it is most severe among children.
"It is the greatest feeling in the world to help kids," Carol Schaeffer, co-owner of the dealership, said.
That is one of the reasons why the fundraiser continues to grow each year, with 412 participants this year.
Jim Ferrier, Orwigsburg, has participated in each fundraiser since the first one.
"Years ago, we were able to raise a few thousand dollars, and here we are trying to raise $250,000," he said. "It just kind of caught on. Harley-Davidson backs the MDA and we take a lot of pride in being the highest raising dealership in the county, which we usually are."
One of the reasons Ferrier said the fundraiser has garnered so much support over the years is because the participants have met the children they are helping with the disease.
"When you see them, our heart bleeds for them and you want to help out," he said. "It's overwhelming when you see the emotion from the families."
Two cousins from North Schuylkill High School raised $6,504 for the fundraiser. Nikki Harris, a high school junior, and Brandon Mueller, a high school sophomore, have been a part of the fundraiser since 2008. Harris's brother, Brandon Harris, 14, has a type of the disease.
"We do everything we can so that hopefully he will get better soon," Harris said.
Mueller said the whole family looks forward to the Ride For Life each year.
"It's the best weekend of the year," Mueller said.
"It is the weekend we all look forward to, year in and year out," Harris said.
For more information on the Muscular Dystrophy Association, visit www.mdarideforlife.org. The total amount of funds raised for the organization will be posted online at www.mdarideforlife.org or the event's Facebook page.