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Thursday, July 16, 2009
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Shriners stage motorcyle rally to help hospital
Staff Writer When Ron and Cyndi Burnard's daughter, Tori, was 3, she had an orthopedic condition that allowed her to be seen, free of charge, at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in the Twin Cities.
It was a positive experience that made Ron Burnard not only join the local Aadzuhman Shrine Club, but remain active in raising funds to help other children like his daughter, now 22. He is a past president of the local club and serves on the Divan board of directors in Duluth.
"Seeing what they were doing for children, I wanted to get involved," said Burnard. "They perform miracles down at the Shriners hospital."
On Saturday, the Burnards, many other Shriners and volunteers will host the fourth annual Shriners Motorcycle Rally. The event starts and ends at Villella's Bada-Bing on Highway 371 north of Brainerd.
Registration is from 9-11 a.m. Saturday with the ride starting promptly at 11 a.m. The rally will stop at L&P Lakeside Resort in Randall, then at the Bear's Den in Leader where the owner will be hosting pig races and other activities. The next stop will be Kelly's on the west side of Gull Lake and then back to Bada-Bing by 5-5:30 p.m., said Burnard.
Cost to participate is $25 in advance or $30 on Saturday. Registration includes dinner and live entertainment by the Tim Mahoney Band at Bada-Bing in the evening. Activities, drawings and auctions also will take place.
Those who wish to come out to enjoy the band only will be asked to pay a $7 cover charge. All proceeds will go toward the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Those who don't have a motorcycle but would like to travel along may register online or in person and catch a ride on the Bada-Bing's 30-person passenger bus. Seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Burnard said the event usually draws around 100 participants. He said they hope to raise around $20,000.
Burnard said more than 100 children in the Brainerd lakes area are served by the Shriners Hospital.
While the Twin Cities hospital has been in existence since 1923, Burnard said many people still do not realize it is there, offering quality care at no charge. The hospital treats children with limb deficiencies/deformities, arthrogryposis, cerebral palsy, hip problems, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, spina bifida, neurological disorders, osteogenesis imperfecta, specialized plastic surgery/scar revision, rickets, burn injuries, spine deformities and sports injuries.
Children are eligible to receive care if they are younger than 18 with a treatable orthopedic condition. Income, financial status and/or insurance coverage has no impact on eligibility for services.
The Shriners provide transportation to and from the hospital and since the closest Shriners burn center is in Cincinnati, they also will fly patients there for treatments of their burn injuries.
"We say the Shriners Hospitals are the best kept secret and it's really a shame," said Burnard.
The Shrine Club here has raised nearly $1 million during the past 20 years to support Shriners Hospitals.
For more information on the rally or to pre-register, visit the Web site, www.paulbunyanshrinerrally.com.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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