“It’s our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Shannon Polk, director of the ministry which serves mothers who have lost children and family members coping with grief.
The ministry has reached out to nearly 180 family members, not only locally, but outside the state, including Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia and Maryland.
The ministry maintains a wall of angels, children who have died. When Trinity started three years ago there were nine angels. There are now 152. “When we first started the lion’s share of the cause of death was accidents. The second year was suicide. The third year and to date has been heroin.”
Conservatively, Polk counts since late 2015 there have been 45 people who died from heroin overdoses added to the wall of angels.
This year the bike rally will also be in honor of three missing women — Shonda Stansbury, Amy Bridgeman and Jalesa Reynolds.
Trinity teamed with Kim Wallace, a local advocate for the missing, to have three bikers from 305 Guns MC lead the pack when the ride gets underway, departing from the American Legion, around noon.
The American Legion will also serve as the site for numerous activities as the bikers ride and represent the three missing women and 152 angels.
Polk is expecting more than 200 bikers to take part in the ride. “We had 70 show up last year. There’s no entry fee. If you want to ride just show up.”
Michael Cooke is helping with the route. He has been friends with Lisa Norwood, one of the mothers of Trinity, for years. “I’ve felt a strong connection. I’ve been more than happy to help with the memory ride. When people see the bandannas with the angel’s names, they ask questions.”
The fundraiser is to help pay for overhead. There are several smaller fundraisers held.
“A mother’s worst fear after losing their child is that their child will be forgotten,” Polk said in launching plans for the bike rally in April. “We address this by having frequent never forgotten events.”
In 2015 there was a butterfly release and a floating candle release. Last year there was a balloon release and the first bike rally. “At each of these events we speak their name. Every December we participate with the National Candlelight vigil in collaboration with Compassionate Friends.”
Besides maintaining a weekly support group, Trinity maintains an online support group. The organization does fundraisers for funerals, headstones, paying a family’s light bills and other causes.
Numerous sponsors are behind the rally, Polk said. “We have had amazing response from the business community. We are a Christian organization and our largest community financial supporters are bikers, bars and businesses.”
Schedule
Biker registration begins at 11 a.m. Singles cornhole registration starts at 11:30. At 11:50 Sue Owen will have the opening prayer.
The bikers leave at noon and between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. they return.
The singles cornhole tournament starts at 12:30 p.m. and Elle the Pit Bull, and her owner, Leah Brewer, will be on hand at 1 p.m.
Doubles cornhole registration begins at 3:30 p.m. and the tournament begins at 4:30 p.m.
Food will be served at 4:10 p.m.
At 4:20 the Speak their Name ceremony starts.
At 4:25 Bill Waugh will perform music.
Smith Martial Arts will put on demonstrations at 4:35.
James Hyatt of the Roanoke Valley Veterans Museum will speak at 4:40 p.m.
Wallace will discuss the missing at 4:45 p.m.
Ellen and Gray Draper will perform musical numbers at 4:50.
Diane Bone will speak on behalf of Mothers of Trinity at 4:55 followed by Brian Hux speaking on behalf of fathers and Rhonda Ayscue speaking on behalf of families.
At 5:10 p.m. the County Line Dancers will perform. At 5:20 Harley Briggs will sing.
At 5:25 p.m. Amanda Champion will discuss Junior’s Special Day while at 5:30 p.m. the Drapers will perform again.
At 5:40 p.m. Tammy Whitby will talk about Recovery & Transformers. At 5:45 p.m. Polk will discuss Hope over Heroin.
Briggs will perform again at 5:50 p.m. Polk will close the event at 6 p.m. followed by the 50-50 drawing.
For more information contact Polk at 252-308-0111.
