Bikers riding for a cause this weekend
Dozens of motorcyclists gathered Friday in Butler for the kickoff of Butler Bikes and BBQ.
Eric Mershimer, president of the Butler County chapter of the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE), said the weekend-long event is a celebration of motorcycles and the people who ride them, but also an opportunity to promote awareness of bikers in order to keep drivers and bikers both safe.
“We’re here to show everyone in town that we are here,” Mershimer said. “We’re putting on the parade, games, a bike show, bike giveaways for kids — we are hoping for some attention.”
This is the second year the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau is hosting Bikes and BBQ. Bureau president Jack Cohen said he helped adapt the idea from a similar event in Erie.
The event takes place over the weekend at the Butler Farm Show grounds, but on Friday, many motorcyclists convened on Butler’s Main Street for a kickoff run. Motorcyclists got a police escort from the Westminster Presbyterian Church to the Farm Show grounds in Connoquenessing, in order to raise awareness and money for Butler County Veterans in Need.
“I joined because of the charity we do,” said Walter Rager Sr., vice president of Butler County ABATE. “Pretty much all of this, we are doing this weekend is for veterans.”
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