Catch us live on BlogTalkRadio every



Tuesday & Thursday at 6pm P.S.T.




Tuesday, March 15, 2011

HARRISON COUNTY, MS - Bikers build wheelchair ramp for Boy Scout Troop

OFF THE WIRE

A motorcycle club says don't let the Harleys and leather jackets fool you. The Southern Independent Riders say they're all heart especially when it comes to helping children. Their latest project was in Harrison County. Club members spent most of Saturday in building a wheelchair ramp for a Boy Scout Troop.
For most people, the sounds of saws and hammers means a lot of hard work, but for the scouts of Troop 245, it was the soundtrack to an exciting weekend.
Eleven-year- old Joe Joe Spires said, "It's been awesome. I like it, and I get to hang out with my friends."
The scout leader said getting this wheelchair ramp is about more than coming up with a fun project for the boys. Troop 245 doesn't have any wheelchair bound scouts right now, but he knows that could change.
"For future Boy Scouts so we can have handicap children," said Carl Smith, Scout Leader. "If anybody comes in a wheelchair, we'll be able to accept them in our troop. They won't be left out. I don't want to have to turn away any boys, any time."
The Southern Independent Riders volunteered to be the muscle behind the ramp. The bikers are from Mississippi and Louisiana. They say they often hold fundraisers for children, including a yearly poker run in Fort Allen, Louisiana to benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital. Robert Wayne Hunter is president of the organization.
"The way I look at it, a lot of us look at it, these children are our future," said Hunter. "They're coming up, and they're our future. Give them a chance in this world. They need a chance. So we're here to give them that chance. All they've got to do is take it. "
Bikers wanted to work along side the scouts to show the boys an example of people out trying to make a difference in the community. Hopefully, this younger generation will one day pick up the torch.
Smith said, "It's a very good lesson, and I'm hoping to get more jobs like this for them to help the community out."
"Because it's what Scouts do," said Spires. "It helps people, teaches them to be a better person."
Officials say Cub Scout Pack 249 also uses the hut that got the new wheelchair ramp.

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=14240229