TRAVERSE CITY — Roaring through town, 375 motorcycles signaled that help was on the way.
The 19th annual Ride for Father Fred on Sunday featured thunderous horsepower for a worthy cause. Hosted by the Harley Owners Group, Northern Chapter, the two-day event drew hundreds of riders and passengers. An estimated 40-50 volunteers from the chapter pitched in during the weekend.
Last year's gathering raised $15,338 for the Father Fred Foundation, a nonprofit, non-denominational organization that aids needy, poor and hungry individuals and families.
"This annual ride is a great fundraiser and it just means so much to our community," said Martie Manty, executive director of the Father Fred Foundation.
Many riders still have a strong connection to Father Fred -- Father Edwin Frederick -- a Harley enthusiast who launched the fundraiser in 1993. Father Fred died in 2000 but the ride continues as one of his legacies.
"Many here rode with Father Fred (and) have memories of Father Fred," Manty said. "They talk about how many of their kids Father Fred baptized or how he helped at their wedding or a family funeral."
An iconic photo of Father Fred features him wearing a leather jacket while astride a motorcycle, said Paul Jarboe, past director of the local HOG chapter.
"What was really neat about him was that he really identified with the HOG group," he said.
Sunday morning's signature ride wound through Traverse City and then out the Old Mission Peninsula and back. A police escort kept the nearly two-mile long procession together, with motorcycles riding two abreast. The ride concluded at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Cherryland Post 2780, where volunteers served breakfast.
"It is just unbelievable, especially to ride it without interruption -- it's so peaceful," said Maggie Dakoske, of Traverse City, participating in her fourth Ride for Father Fred. "People stand out with flags along the route waiting for the bikes to come, they just line the route."
Pastor Jim Holwerda, chaplain to the Father Fred Foundation, donned leather vest and motorcycle helmet for his first ever Ride for Father Fred.
"I'm very excited, I've been hearing about it for the five months I've been here," he said. "This is amazing and what I love about it is you get a group of people together to do something they love and it is aimed at helping others."
Curt Erickson of Biloxi, Miss., was also participating in his inaugural Ride for Father Fred event. Purchasing his Harley last year, he heard about the charity ride from friend Lew Kirchner, director of the local HOG chapter. The pair recently completed a four-day ride from Mississippi so Erickson could join the fun.
"It brings out motorcycle enthusiasts of all types, a good cross section," Erickson said of the Ride for Father Fred.
Revving up for his ninth time, Kirchner said that the ride was still thrilling.
"The first time I did this ride, I couldn't get the smile off my face for three days," he said.
The Ride for Father Fred weekend kicked off on Saturday with a Poker Run ride through Benzie, Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties. Participants ended in downtown Traverse City, where they lined up hundreds of motorcycles for a bike show along Front Street, which was closed to traffic.
For more information on the Father Fred Foundation, call 947-2055 or see www.fatherfred.org.
