Legacy Week: Townsville gears up for Ride for Legacy this Saturday
Nearly 200 bikes will roar through Townsville as the Patriots Motorcycle Club revs up for its 13th annual Ride for Legacy this Saturday, raising funds and giving Legacy beneficiaries, some in their 70s, a ride to remember.
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The rumble and roar of nearly 200 bikes will be heard for a good cause on roads throughout the city this Saturday as the Townsville Chapter of the Patriots Motorcycle Club holds its annual Ride for Legacy.
The event will mark the start of Legacy Week in the Garrison city and be the 13th time the Townsville chapter of Patriots Australia will hold its annual bike ride raising much-need funds for the charity and will also take several beneficiaries, some in their 70s, along for the ride.
Vice president of the Townsville chapter Buck Rogers said Legacy was close to the hearts of the Patriots as it members were current or ex-serving veterans.
“Townsville, being a garrison city, we’ve all lost mates, and for those that are left behind, Legacy supports our friends and family,” he said.
“We’re all ex-serving military or current serving military members of not only Australian but coalition forces, and it just seemed like the next possible thing to do was raise money.”
He said they always offered places on the back of their bikes for beneficiaries for the Legacy ride and had one participant last year who was in her 80s.
“We offer it (bike rides) out to all the beneficiaries around Townsville. We currently have five that we’ll be putting on the back of bikes and taking them for a run. Our oldest, I think, was 82 when she came for a first ride, and she loved it.”
He said money raised from the annual ride went to Legacy and the charity Wounded Heroes.
“So 70 per cent of what we raise on the day and what we’ve been doing, our major raffle, goes to Legacy, and 30 per cent we’re putting aside for Wounded Heroes.
“We’re not only looking after those that were left behind but for our brothers that are on hard times. All the money stays local in Townsville.
Northern Legacy president Shane Grist said it was fantastic to get support from the Patriots MC.
“It’s always good to have passionate people wanting to help out, and The Patriots are fantastic.
“They’re not only volunteering for the ride, but a number of them are also legatees, so they regularly also go and visit some of our widows out in the nursing homes, and do they can be relied on any time to help out.
“It is service beyond service, and that’s something that’s really important for people who have spent many years in the military.
“It gives them an outlet to do that, and it supports us, not just financially, because of all the efforts, months and months and months of effort, on top of actually giving up their time and formally joining Legacy as volunteers.”
He said the Legacy Bike ride kicked off Legacy Week, which would see soldiers in all the shopping centres in Townsville selling you wonderful merchandise from September the second until the sixth.
“You’ll be able to find soldiers who will be manning our stalls and looking after taking our donations and merchandise.
Registration for the Legacy bike ride is at Sun City, Harley on Saturday from one o’clock with the 120km ride commencing at 3pm with the finish at the Patriots Club House on Ingham Road.
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Originally published as Legacy Week: Townsville gears up for Ride for Legacy this Saturday
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