Shar’s Ride for MS – 16 Super Sweet Years Of Motorcycle Rides
By late summer, two Windsor and Essex County charities will have celebrated Sweet 16 anniversaries of organizing motorcycle rides throughout the region, for the benefit of its residents in need. Shar’s Ride for MS — held on the third Sunday of September — is a poker style motorcycle ride, followed by a dinner to raise funds for local residents living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This event is open to all riders and the non-riding public can participate through purchasing dinner tickets.
The September 15 ride begins at the Windsor Moose Lodge 1499 (also a sponsor) from 777 Tecumseh Road West, with registration from 9 to 10:30 a.m., departure at 11 a.m., and returning to the Lodge for dinner afterwards with raffles, prizes, and loads of fun. (Post-ride doors open at 2:30 p.m., with dinner served at 4:30 p.m.). This year’s ride is sponsored by Biz X magazine, In Play Magazine, Robinson Motorcycle, Families First, Colchester Bar & Grill, The CG Realm, Karen’s 4 Kids, Leather King & King’s Power Sports, and Lakeshore Logistics Limited.
The first Ride & Dine fundraiser in 2009 was founded by Shar and Tom Good. The purpose was to raise funds for the local MS community, but also to create awareness of what MS is and how it can affect each one of us. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, and an average of 12 Canadians a day are diagnosed with the disease.
Funds raised are used locally to help with costs and to better the quality of life for those with MS. To date, the ride has raised over $123,400 to assist the Windsor Essex MS community. This includes purchasing items/necessities, such as special equipment and incontinence supplies, housekeeping, and transportation to doctor’s appointments.
The current Event Coordinator of Shar’s Ride for MS is Margaret (Margie) Ouellette. She trained under Shar for this position and informs us: “Shar found it necessary to step down as Event Coordinator due to medical conditions and has since passed away on January 10, 2021. But our volunteer group found it important to continue this event in her memory.”
All funds raised from this event are donated to the MS Community of Windsor-Essex County Optimist Club, a registered charity in Canada, (tax receipts can be distributed to donors through them).
To find out the cost to participate as a rider or to attend the dinner portion only, connect with Ouellette via Facebook. BUT, before Shar’s Ride for MS takes place on September 15, 2024, another popular fundraising motorcycle ride takes place on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 16th annual ride, On A Mission For The Mission, opens with registrations at 9 a.m. at the 519 Beerhouse, 11828 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor. There are no age restrictions for this family event and breakfast is available for supporters.
Then it’s kickstands up at 11 a.m. for their 80-minute ride through Essex County, arriving at the Colchester Bar & Grill for a steak dinner with all the fixings and entertainment. Food for this dinner is generously supplied by local county establishments.
The ride continues to grow each year, and this year 300 motorcycles are expected. Members of the Windsor motorcycle club, CMC 017, volunteer as marshals along the route.
On A Mission For The Mission was set up in 2008 by Willie Milligan with the aim of making a positive impact. All funds raised are dedicated to supporting the Downtown Mission of Windsor in providing food, shelter, clothing and supports for the homeless, hurting and hungry in the community. To download a pledge sheet to participate, go online.
Current President, Shaun Fathers, stresses that they are not just a one time a year ride organization as: “Every Wednesday in 2024, since May 1 until September 25, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., On A Mission For The Mission holds a Charity Bike Night. This weekly get together, with music and food specials, is sponsored this year by 519 Beerhouse.
All proceeds go directly to the Windsor Downtown Mission’s food bank.” On A Mission For The Mission is a registered charity (able to issue tax receipts) in Canada, led by a 10-member board of volunteer directors called Mission Control.
For more information on their Charity Bike Nights, the organization’s history and amount of dollars raised, check their event listing on the Biz X Events calendar.
Finally, the 519 Beerhouse, in partnership with On A Mission For The Mission, recently hosted the first 519 Beer House Bike Show & Can Drive on July 13, complete with three local bands, a celebrity judge, people’s choice awards, and onsite vendors.
Patrons gained free entry with the donation of non-perishable goods for the downtown food bank. This will be an annual event.
Biz X magazine wishes both these organizations safe and successful rides and we thank them for their great community service. And, in the best tradition of Neil Sedaka, we sing: “Happy Birthday Sweet 16” to all the volunteers involved!
