Help Greg Finish the Ride (from Seekonk to Taunton) SEMMSF

Sunday, June 28, a young Veteran and severely injured rider and his family need our and your support.

"Help Greg Finish the Ride," Seekonk to Taunton - co-hosted by the Southeastern MA Motorcyclists Survivor's Fund (www.SEMMSF.org) - $15 in advance (available on that web site until 6/27) - $20 at the Seekonk Speedway 9:30 staging area - Ride leaves at NOON SHARP. AMA sanctioned Event - includes PIG ROAST by Paul V. (formerly an ABATE of MA member) at the Lafayette Club, and live music donated by "Johnny G 3," with John Gilligan. They play cover tunes as well as some originals. See them at www.myspace.com/johnnygilligan

Here's the short version of the long - all too familiar "rider-victim" story - and what else YOU can do about it !

Last June 22, (2008) Greg was riding home when a 75-year old blew a STOP sign, (he "thought he could make it") resulting in a direct impact with Greg shattering his body and his young life.

After volunteering for the MA Army National Guard while finishing High School, he answered the call to duty the spring of 2002, then went to "the theater of operations" the spring of 2003 for 12 months, and was then "boots on the ground" for a another 3 months attached in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Greg was a driver in the 1058 Transportation Unit out of Hingham. He was in an ambush while over there as well as many "near misses" with IED, and many other hazards. His unit traveled all over that country! They actually transformed their trucks into "gun trucks" so then he was a "machine gunner" running escorts for "third country nationals." He earned his Air Assault Wings which was a big accomplishment for him. He is a Staff Sergeant and was a platoon leader as well as his unit's PT instructor. Quite accomplished for a young guy.

He was home for 4 years when then his world turned upside down. He was a full time college student (Bridgewater State College, Criminal Justice Major, on the Dean's List), still serving in the MA Army National Guard (had signed on for another 6 years and planned on doing 20 years) and also worked part time at Loomis (armored money trucks). He was due to graduate last month and had been recruited by the Newport RI police department.

And then some 75-year old guy in a hurry with no place to go - blows a STOP sign - with minimal liability coverage and no assets. And now, with over $700,000 in medical bills, . . . Greg will never see a dime.

So the www.SEMMSF.org, the folks at Seekonk Speedway, Joe & Jane of www.IronstoneVentures.com and Greg's family and friends - see www.aheroheals.com - are joining forces to make Greg's and his family's lives a little comfortable, with this "Help Greg Finish the Ride" fundraising Event, and a portion of the funds raised from this Event will go into the SEMMSF pool of funds to assist other riders families in need.

Greg will be at the Ride. If he can be there - please come out also - whether your a rider, a veteran - (or both) - or just a person who would like to pay tribute and make a donation to this special young man and his family - rain or shine, ride or drive, Sunday, June 28th.

PC EDITORIAL NOTE - AS A MOTORCYCLIST ADVOCATE - NOT ON BEHALF OF THE MMSF OR SEMMSF . . .

I sent a letter to the driver who wrecked Greg's life over two weeks ago, offering to mediate an off the record meeting with Greg. He has not yet answered that invitation - We hope he will - that would help Greg in his healing and rehab process. As no citation was issued, we suspect he's just been advised to stay away.

On behalf of motor vehicle accident victims, House, No. 1405 has been filed at the State House, seeking to shift the financial burdens victims and their families face when others violate their right of way resulting in death or serious bodily injury. See www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht01/ht01405.htm.

House, No. 1405 has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee and its Public Hearing is scheduled for September 29th. I'll be asking ALL victims of right of way violations, and their families to be at that Hearing, to share with legislators how 'right of way victims' are victimized twice - first with the accident and resulting injuries or lost of life, and secondary with the financial burdens through no fault of their own.

If this type bill gets enacted, that $700,000 in debt Greg faces - through no fault of his own - would be shifted to the at-fault driver who won't even answer a letter. Let him go bankrupt, not his victim. Please pass the word to others you know who have been victimized - join me in Seekonk OR Taunton on June 28 and at the State House September 29th !

Write me privately at claimscote@aol.com for more information on this Bill and working to right this wrong.

TONS of thanks - PC

Speaking only for myself and not on behalf of any nonprofit organization I am a member to.

Stage Fort Park in Gloucester will host 10th Annual Nelson's Ride!

Date: June 10, 2009

(Gloucester, MA) - Stage Fort Park, in Gloucester, (off Route 127 and right on the ocean), will be the host site for the 10th Annual "Nelson's Ride," Sunday, August 23 (with 8/30 its rain date), as today, the City of Gloucester Licensing Committee unanimously approved the Special Event license, permit applications and of the Massachusetts Motorcyclists Survivor's Fund, Inc.

Appearing before the Police & Fire Chief and Assistant City Clerk, were MMSF officers Jason Hallock, Jacky Kieras, and Paul W. Cote. Prior to the Hearing, the MMSF had submitted its "Event Plan" with supporting documents, and had signed a "Facilities Usage Agreement" with Gloucester's Department of Public Works. Both the Police Chief and Assistant Clerk expressed their appreciation of the Plan and references provided.

Our web mistress Samantha has updated the www.NelsonsRide.org web site with the Event schedule, a layout of the expected usage of Park, the proposed 30-mile SLOW Ride Route (subject to police approval), pictures of the Event T-shirts, and linked up our "click & pledge" account to begin taking credit card orders now ! Check it all out at www.NelsonsRide.org.

In line with the this being the "10th Annual" Nelson's Ride, due to present economic conditions, and your 10 years of support, some advance purchase items will be $10.

Now available on the www.NelsonsRide.org web site, advance Ride Tickets are $10 per bike and $10 per passenger. Purchase of advance Ride tickets gets you into the door prize drawing. Advance purchase of 10th Annual Nelson's Ride T-shirts are $10 each, and their design by Frank Perron and Lee Blais, can be viewed on the www.NelsonsRide.org web site.

These items will be available at some of our MMSF supporting shops, dealers and businesses, which we'll begin lining up over the next few weeks and list on our www.NelsonsRide.org web site, for cash sales in advance of the August 23 Ride and Event.

10th Annual Patch and Pin sets will be $10 in advance or at the Event. And the MMSF Raffle tickets are $10 each, in advance or at the Event.

Two bands are being lined up to play live at the Event, watch for those announcements.

The Bike Games will return as well as Dean's Concessions with the food. Vendors interested in selling their wares should write us at Contact@MassMSF.org.

Sherm Deering, of the New Life Riders/Christian Motorcycle Association, will be the lead Ride Road Captain. If you can Road Guard during this 30-mile SLOW Ride Route, write us at Contact@MassMSF.org

Plan to bring your blanket for laying out on the grass at the Park, or even your swimming gear for a dip in the Ocean !

Event planning meetings will begin on Thursday nights, June 18 and 25, at the Ipswich VFW, off Route 1A, at 7:30, usually lasting an hour. If you would like to volunteer, please attend one of these initial planning meetings.

"Bikers Helping Bikers" - your MMSF.

For other upcoming MMSF supported Events on the North Shore, South Shore and Blackstone Valley areas, see www.MassMSF.org.

TONS of thanks for your 10 years of support !

Upcoming MMSF Events: June 5th, 2009 edition

Reminder - American Motorcycle Association (AMA) Rallies in June, Americade (http://www.tourexpo.com) runs through June 6th and Laconia (http://www.laconiamcweek.com) runs June 13 to 21st.

Upcoming MMSF supported Events . . . .

June 6 - 7 p.m. Essex, . . . The first and third Saturday nights each month, Aces and Eights RC Open Houses, Essex. See www.acesandeightsrc.com for more information - next open house, Saturday, June 6th - 7:00 p.m.

SPECIAL NOTE ! . . . Capt'n Ken of Concept Signs/Beverly, will be putting the Aces & Eights logo on our MMSF Mobile Events Van at this open house Saturday night, and will be available for pin-striping your bike. Come on out, see the Van, consider some pin-striping, and enjoy the Open House !

Saturday, June 6, 2009, Fire and Iron Chapter 777 (Metro Boston) "Memorial Ride" for Mike DiCarlo, from Tequila's, Route 1 South, Danvers. A portion of the Funds raised will be donated to the MMSF and the F & I Chapter logo will be going on our Mobile Events Van soon !

Staging begins at 8:30, Ride leaves at 10:00 sharp !

See www.MassMSF.org for more information and flyer

Sunday, June 7, 2009, Xtreme Rider's 10th Annual "Andrew's Helping Hands" Ride, Framingham to Leominster, hosted by MMSF supporting club, the Xtreme Riders. See http://www.xtremeriders.com/ for more information and flyers

Friday night, June 12, North Shore Riders FREE BBQ - at Cycles 128, Beverly. We're hoping Capt'n Ken of Concept Signs will be putting this MMSF supporting club's logo on our Mobile Events Van that night as well as offering his pin-striping services ! See www.MassMSF.org for information and flyer

Sunday, June 28, "Help Greg Finish the Ride" event, Seekonk to Taunton, sponsored by the SEMMSF. See www.SEMMSF.org for more info, flyer, and to purchase advance tickets, including its pig roast !

See the winning t-shirt and logo design for the 10th Annual "Nelson's Ride," by Frank Perron of Ipswich and Lee Blais of Danvers, longtime Nelsons' Ride riders, now posted on www.MassMSF.org
Check out www.SEMMSF.org for more Southeastern MA Survivor Fund upcoming Events and
Check out www.bvmsurvivorsfund.org for Blackstone Valley Survivor Fund upcoming Events

Contact us at Contact@MassMSF.org to join us in our efforts of "Riders Helping Riders"