Big bikes rally for Fallbrook scholarship run

By: LAUREN RAE BRIMMER - For the North County Times | Saturday, April 8, 2006 11:23 PM PDT ∞

Father Edward "Bud" Kaichen makes his way through hundreds of motorcycles Saturday, blessing them prior to the second annual Bikers for Education Ride & Rally. The event began with a breakfast at 8 a.m. and blessing of bikes at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fallbrook, continued with a ride of 90 miles and concluded with a rally at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center.
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FALLBROOK ---- A bevy of Harley Davidsons and their riders in black and leather filled the parking lot of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fallbrook on Saturday morning, as a cheerful horde of about 500 bikers prepared to ride in the second annual Bikers for Education Ride & Rally.

Commencing with a pancake and sausage breakfast followed by a blessing of the bikes, the charity event was expected to raise at least $30,000 for children of fallen military service members to attend college. Participants clearly enjoyed the sun-drenched morning before embarking on their scenic 90-mile route from Fallbrook to Valley Center.

After paying expenses of the event, all money collected through entrance fees and raffles will go to the scholarship fund of Freedom Alliance, according to Karen Downey, wife of rally founder Mathew Downey.

"My husband has always felt strongly about education," Downey said. "(Looking for a way to contribute) he felt that helping children of fallen soldiers was where his heart was."

Freedom Alliance spokeswoman Jane Barnett who attended the event explained the daunting mission of the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which has thus far provided scholarships to 95 children of deceased or 100 percent disabled service members.

"Every penny given to the scholarship fund goes to scholarships," she said.

The trust fund holds $8 million dollars but will need to raise $38 million to serve the estimated 1,600 children whose parents were killed or disabled in the current Iraq war, she said. Most of the children are 3 to 7 years old now, so the foundation expects the greatest need starting in 10 years.

While the Downeys, as event organizers, were too busy coordinating the event to ride this year, they are avid motorcyclists. Rally participants come from across Southern California, including Fallbrook Union High School District Superintendent Tom Anthony and FHS Science Department chair, Tracy Markham. Rally founder Matthew Downey's nephew Paul was a student of Markham's last year.

Markham said she sees Fallbrook as the perfect place to host the event.

"You can get on your bike and go to a different place every week," she said, clearly looking forward to the day's ride through Fallbrook, De Luz, Temecula, Ramona and into Valley Center, where the riders descend on Bates Nut Farm for a barbecue and prize contests.

Winner of last year's Best in Class award, with his vintage '73 Harley, was North County Transit's Frank "The Rat" Romero. This year, he and fellow rider Paris Welch were part of a large contingent of returning North County Transit riders including DeRail McNair, Margie and Steve Kittelson, Jan and Paul Yuhas, and David Fontana.

The universal sentiment of participants was one of respect for Americans in uniform and support for the charitable mission of the event.

Post-event contributions can be made by calling (760) 583-1919, or e-mailing info@bferide.com. Scholarship fund contributions can also be made online at www.freedomalliance.org.

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