Area bikers gather for 9th annual BACA fundraiser
by September 26, 2010 9:55 am 200 views
story and photos by Ruby Dean
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The River Valley Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse picked a beautiful fall day on Saturday (Sept. 25) to raise money to combat child abuse.
Local members and friends gathered at Columbus Acres in south Fort Smith for a day of music, food and games at the 9th annual event. The rocking sound of Dorrian Cross kicked off the event, and other bands kept the music cranking all day and into the evening. Smoke from the grills was enough to tempt all into at least a bite and the brisket did not disappoint.
Helicopter rides were available for a small fee with part of the proceeds going to BACA. Silent auction items loaded tables and gave many choices for guests to help raise money. Door prizes, a dunk tank and the popular pie-in-the-face rounded out the entertainment and money raising events.
Special guests from the national BACA association were in attendance to support the event.
BACA mission statement notes: “We exist with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live.”
BACA works in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. The organization befriends the child and lends emotional support for the child that “they adopt.” The entire BACA group rides to meet the child and he/she is given a vest with a BACA patch sewn on the back.
Once BACA becomes involved, the child is given the name and the phone number of two BACA members who reside geographically close to the child. They are the child’s primary contact person. BACA is there to help the child feel safe and protected.
BACA members and supporters also support the children by providing escorts for them if they feel scared in their neighborhoods, riding by their homes on a regular basis, supporting the children at court and parole hearings, attending their interviews and staying with the children if they are alone and frightened.
