BIKER NEWS: Bikers take stand against child abuse

BN - Bikers Agianst Child Abuse raised funds and awareness of child abuse Saturday.
The wind was howling in Pendleton on Saturday morning, whipping up dust and smoke in its wake, but that didn’t stop Bikers Against Child Abuse from braving the elements for a good cause.

“I’ve ridden in worse,” local chapter president Black Jack said, shrugging.

The motorcycle club still managed to pull together a strong group of riders from Oregon and Washington for their annual Bug Run to raise money for services for children who have been abused.

They set out from Cadillac Jack’s Bar and Grill at 10 a.m. and headed for La Grande, where they planned to loop back around and finish up in Pendleton again in the afternoon.

Club member Toad said the funds raised by registration fees and merchandise sales would go to support services to abused children like picking up and escorting a child coming back to the area to testify against an abuser.

“Many times a child has been abused, but there is not sufficient evidence to go forward with the case so they don’t get counseling,” he said. “We provide that.”

A 2013 CDC study showed that in America four to five children die every day as a result of abuse and neglect, and Toad said Bikers Against Child Abuse is taking a stand against the “epidemic.”

Black Jack said sometimes children just need to know someone is there for them after suffering abuse. Local bikers have been known to respond to a 2 a.m. call to stand guard outside the house of a child who is scared their abuser is coming back for them.

“Sometimes it’s a noise in the night and sometimes a car like the perpetrator drove drives past the house and it scares them,” he said. “We’ll set up a guard outside the house to make them feel safe.

As approximately 30 bikers prepared to head out on their run, Black Jack thanked them for coming out to support the cause and encouraged them to have a fun — but careful — ride.

“I know mother nature always makes an appearance on our run so be safe out there,” he said.

More: http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/local-news/20150830/bikers-take-stand-against-child-abuse