Participants in the Ride for Autism, which benefits St. Joseph Center for Special Learning, Pottsville, comes through the city on its way to Whippoorwill Dam near Frackville.
TREMONT - Leather, neon T-shirts and the roar of motorcycles filled borough streets Sunday for the ninth annual Ride for Autism.
Wearing bright T-shirts and multicolored awareness ribbons, 34 motorcyclists departed on the 50-mile excursion at 10:30 a.m. to raise awareness and money for autism.
The charity event benefits St. Joseph Center for Special Learning, Pottsville, to help fight autism, which experts said is one of the fastest growing developmental disabilities in the United States.
Cathy and Gene Perkins Jr., Tremont, organized the ride. Cathy said they originally created it because their grandson, Harley, was diagnosed with autism and her husband had bought a motorcycle about a year after that.
She said they had friends in town who also had children with autism.
"Gene said, 'We have the bike now. We should think about doing something for these kids,' " Cathy said. "After a couple years it (the ride) just kept getting bigger and bigger."
In it's first year, Cathy said there were 16 bikes, but they have had as many as 150 for the annual ride. Last year there were 105 bikes.
The event has even seen riders from as far as Florida in previous years, with a couple riding through while on vacation.
Last year the Ride of Autism presented St. Joseph Center, which the Perkins' grandson has attended for the past four years, with a check for $1,310.
Cathy said that while the center helps children with autism, it also helps young adults 21 and older so they're not just stuck at home all the time. This includes children and adults with autism and other disabilities as well.
Although there was no rain at the start of the ride, Cathy Perkins said rain in previous years may have discouraged people from coming out this year.
The ride ends with a pig roast at the Whippoorwill Dam near Frackville. There has never been a rain date, she said, because the pigs are already being roasted and the event can't be pushed to another day.
"By riding in the rain, we find out who the real bikers are," Gene Perkins said.
Participants were able to register in advance of sign up at the event. The cost is $20 per driver and $20 per passenger.
Dave Prosper and his girlfriend, Dawn Hill, Pottsville, helped to plan the route for the riders over the past four years. They are the road captains for the ride.
Both have been involved for the past eight years and said the weather is inclement nearly every year, but it's worth it since the ride benefits the center, plus there's a picnic full of good food afterward.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Hill said. "Rain or shine, we do this every year."
Leaving from Tremont, the scenic ride went by Sweet Arrow Lake, through Pottsville and Saint Clair and finally headed toward Frackville, where it ended at the Whippoorwill. The route changes every year.
Raffles were available during the picnic thanks to items donated by sponsors. Airwaves provided music.
In Pottsville, fire police assisted with traffic control and city police escorted the riders through town.
http://republicanherald.com/news/34-bikers-take-part-in-9th-ride-for-autism-1.1161001
For more information about the annual ride, visit http://www.rideforautismtremontpa.com./
