Bikers ride to raise money for Alzheimer's - Bloomington Pantagraph

BLOOMINGTON — In honor and support of those who face the loss of their memory, motorcyclists came to Chuck’s Harley-Davidson in Bloomington from far and wide Saturday to put on a ride no one would soon forget.

A cool, cloudless morning marked the sixth annual Remember When ride, in honor of Bloomington biker Mike Fowler’s wife, Donna, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. The event raised money for the Bloomington office of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Fowler said Saturday morning he didn’t have an estimate of how much money the event would bring in, but had counted at least 125 bikers ahead of the 10 a.m. procession.

But there was one conspicuous absence. Donna, who in the past joined her husband on the back of his bike. She now resides at LeRoy Manor, an assisted living facility in LeRoy. She received a visit from the convoy of bikers Saturday.

“I think she’ll recognize the motorcycles,” Fowler said prior to saddling up at the head of the pack.

The community has rallied around the family and others who need help, Fowler said. The past few years have seen the Remember When ride raise larger and larger sums of money to go toward the Alzheimer’s Association, with a portion going toward LeRoy Manor.

Fowler said he was thankful for the help of friends and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the outpouring of support that filled the back lot at Chuck’s with beefy engines, gleaming chrome and folks in leather. The procession brought the thundering convoy through LeRoy, Merna and Lexington before concluding at Bloomington’s VFW Post 454 around lunchtime.

It has been inspiring to see the event grow each year, said Winnie Feken, owner of Chuck’s and a family friend of the Fowlers.

Many families know the pain of watching a loved one slip away at the hands of a disease that seems not to discriminate against its victims, Feken said.

“I truly appreciate what the community is doing today,” Feken said. “You watch the deterioration, and it’s really terrible. The disease doesn’t care who you are.”

Helping people

Andy Shickle, 40, of Bloomington rode in on his 2012 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic. Like many in the biker community, he’s a regular on such benefit rides.

“It’s what the biker community is all about,” Shickle said. “They dig in and help people.”