Fire and Iron Club hosts nonprofit ride
ADAMS TWP — For Ed Gnoth, president of Fire and Iron Station 342 of Butler County, children learning to ride bicycles is the gateway to a love of motorcycles.
“I mean, it happened to us,” he said, gesturing to the other motorcyclists around him.
The station’s annual benefit ride, also known as “Bikers for Bicycles” kicked off again Saturday to benefit Lizzy’s Bikes, a nonprofit that donates bikes to children in need.
Gathering in the parking lot of Mars VFW Post 7505, Gnoth said the 100-mile ride is well supported by other Fire and Iron Stations around Pennsylvania.
“We’re all firefighters and EMTs, but people come in from Indiana, Ohio, we have West Virginia coming today,” he said. “We’re a charitable organization, and we all come together to support.”
All funds brought in from the ride will go toward Lizzy’s Bikes, which coordinator Terry Dillner said started 13 years ago.
“A guy walked into a barbershop in Mars and said his daughter wanted a bike for Easter and could somebody help him,” he said. “A couple hours later, two bikes and helmets were in the barbershop, and the owner decided to start the organization and name it after the daughter, Lizzy.”
Since then, Lizzy’s Bikes has given away more than 1,000 bicycles to children in Butler and Venango counties and the Pittsburgh area.
“Our main goal is helping kids and to have fun doing it,” Gnoth said of the ride. “It’s neat to have a motorcycle ride for bicycles.”
The ride typically generates almost $4,500 a year with the help of an average of 100 motorcyclists and passengers.
Weaving through scenic Butler County, the ride route had three stops: Three B’s Lounge in Zelienople, the East Butler Firemans Club and Hartmann’s Summer Resort and Deep Valley Golf Course in Harmony. The route circled back the the Mars VFW building for a picnic dinner.
Heinz “Lizard” Eangels, road captain for the ride, said his goal was to keep riders safe.
“I watch over everyone and am in charge of the moving, bike inspections, making sure everyone sticks together,” he said.
He said he enjoys his role in the ride and the cause it supports.
“I think it’s an amazing thing, having an organization that helps kids be kids and gives back in that way,” he said.
Tom “Guido” Brantner has been a motorcycle enthusiast for 29 years and said he kept returning to the ride for the camaraderie and the charity.
“It’s a great cause to give under privileged kids bikes they wouldn’t normally get,” he said.
Dillner said he was grateful for the collaboration with Fire and Iron’s ride.
“This is our biggest fundraiser every year. These guys have a heart of gold to do something like this,” he said.
