Hundreds turn out for charity ride for organization that provides injured veterans with motorized wheelchairs..
Anastacio Marquez had the help of a walker when he arrived in Old Town on
Saturday. He left in a motorized wheelchair, donated and refurbished by the
local nonprofit All From the Heart.
Marquez, an Army veteran who suffers from a number of health ailments including arthritis, is among the latest to receive a wheelchair from the organization that has given out 125 of them in three years.
“These people,” he said, “they do anything for veterans.”
On Saturday, All From the Heart held its fourth annual Help Ride, an event that typically attracts hundreds of leather-clad bikers to a charity rock concert at the Quaid Harley-Davidson dealership in Old Town. Organizers estimated that 1,200 would attend.
At $10 apiece, the entry fee helps cover the cost for All From the Heart’s holiday gift program for veterans and their families. It also helps raise awareness for the nonprofit’s mission of helping to mobilize injured veterans. In the past year, the organization gave a local veteran a donated van, converted for wheelchair access. On Saturday, it was set to give out three motorized wheelchairs.
Army veteran Ryan Price, 26, got his wheelchair about a year ago. Price, who farms in Hemet with his wife, Leslie, lost both his legs and the use of his arm in an attack involving an improvised-explosive device while in Afghanistan in 2008. He was at Saturday’s event to show his support.
“It’s helped me a lot,” he said, going down a list of his daily chores that include everything from moving hay to feeding horses and pigs.
He said family support and that of groups such as All From the Heart made the difference.
“Everybody deals with being injured in a different way,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to have so much support. I know a lot of veterans like me. It’s sad that we have to have organizations like this, but it’s a good thing.”
By noon, the event had attracted several hundred attendees. In addition to the rock concert, a tattoo contest, vendors and a beer and wine garden helped reel in the masses.
According to Corinna Coram, event coordinator with Golden Crown Productions, the event was created years ago to give Southwest County an event similar to the Love Ride, the annual gathering of motorcycle riders that has benefited the USO and other organizations.
Judy Harter, founder and president of http://msnbc.msn.com-report6.
, said it’s the patriotism that moves people to support the organization.
“Look around, these people are patriotic,” she said. “And they are very generous.”
Marquez, an Army veteran who suffers from a number of health ailments including arthritis, is among the latest to receive a wheelchair from the organization that has given out 125 of them in three years.
“These people,” he said, “they do anything for veterans.”
On Saturday, All From the Heart held its fourth annual Help Ride, an event that typically attracts hundreds of leather-clad bikers to a charity rock concert at the Quaid Harley-Davidson dealership in Old Town. Organizers estimated that 1,200 would attend.
At $10 apiece, the entry fee helps cover the cost for All From the Heart’s holiday gift program for veterans and their families. It also helps raise awareness for the nonprofit’s mission of helping to mobilize injured veterans. In the past year, the organization gave a local veteran a donated van, converted for wheelchair access. On Saturday, it was set to give out three motorized wheelchairs.
Army veteran Ryan Price, 26, got his wheelchair about a year ago. Price, who farms in Hemet with his wife, Leslie, lost both his legs and the use of his arm in an attack involving an improvised-explosive device while in Afghanistan in 2008. He was at Saturday’s event to show his support.
“It’s helped me a lot,” he said, going down a list of his daily chores that include everything from moving hay to feeding horses and pigs.
He said family support and that of groups such as All From the Heart made the difference.
“Everybody deals with being injured in a different way,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to have so much support. I know a lot of veterans like me. It’s sad that we have to have organizations like this, but it’s a good thing.”
By noon, the event had attracted several hundred attendees. In addition to the rock concert, a tattoo contest, vendors and a beer and wine garden helped reel in the masses.
According to Corinna Coram, event coordinator with Golden Crown Productions, the event was created years ago to give Southwest County an event similar to the Love Ride, the annual gathering of motorcycle riders that has benefited the USO and other organizations.
Judy Harter, founder and president of http://msnbc.msn.com-report6.
, said it’s the patriotism that moves people to support the organization.
“Look around, these people are patriotic,” she said. “And they are very generous.”