FLORIDA - Bikers shut down I-4 for child abuse charity ride

OFF THE WIRE
ORLANDO --

A charity motorcycle ride created some traffic issues for those traveling on Interstate 4 Sunday.

The ride began at 11:45 a.m. from Downtown Disney and traveled eastbound on I-4 from Apopka-Vineland Road (exit 68) to Conroy Road (exit 78).

With his long ponytail and leather vest covered in biker patches, John Paul Lilly may have looked out of place amongst the crowds at Walt Disney World.

But he was in good company Sunday morning as he stood amongst hundreds of fellow bikers waiting in a parking lot at Downtown Disney.

“It’s quite a turnout,” he said as he looked at the throngs of people clad in black leather, “What it tells me is people want to fight child abuse.”

He and hundreds of fellow bikers were there to sign up for the Tri-County Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse benefit ride. The group provides support to victims of child abuse by raising money for programs that help young victims.

“Our job is to empower children,” said Lilly, a social worker from Utah who founded Bikers Against Child Abuse. “That’s our one mission, our one goal is to empower children.”

Hundreds of bikers who paid between $5 and $10 in donations hopped on their motorcycles and left Disney World for a drive up I-4.

Escorted by the police, the bikers flooded the highway, which was briefly closed down to other traffic.

“It’s an incredible rush. It’s almost like an army moving at one time. Everyone in one purpose, in sync, for one cause,” said Kevin Seidl, a biker who participated in the charity ride.

The trip up the interstate ended at a Harley-Davidson dealership just off Conroy Road in Orlando.

Bikers gathered there for an after-party Sunday afternoon.

Fundraising totals for the charity ride were not immediately available late Sunday afternoon.

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