The 10th annual On a Mission for the Mission Motorcycle Ride raked in more than $10,000 — a fitting success story as the event founders prepare to pass the ride on to another group.
On Sunday, more than 400 riders embarked on a journey from Victoria Ave. in Windsor to Colchester in support of The Downtown Mission and its programs.
After 10-years of rounding up sponsors and attending rides to invite new guest, event founders Frenchie Aligarde and George Winnie are ready to pass the torch on to the Sober Sons Motorcycle Club.
Executive Director Ron Dunn tells AM800 News both organizations are looking forward to working together.
"This is a motorcycle club whose membership consists of people who have battled with and beaten addiction," he says. "There's really a great link there moving forward and we're really excited about what the future will mean for the ride."
"I don't know how many of them have been homeless, but they've experienced the pain and the conflict that come along with addiction and the related issues," says Dunn. "Homelessness and isolation, the burning and repairing of bridges with family and friends and all of those things, they get what we're doing and why we're doing it."
Dunn says $10,000 is enough money to serve 726 meals a day for around five days.
"The money, as a non-government agency we rely on events like this and the generosity of the community as a whole to keep the programs operating," he added.
The event has raised more than $75,000 for the mission.