Upcoming ride to benefit memorial project in Nichols

The Tioga County Chapter of La Familia Motorcycle Club will be hosting a benefit ride on July 27 for a veteran’s memorial being constructed in Nichols, all put together by Girl Scout Adeline Whitmore who is going for her gold award.  

Brad Bartholomew, president of the La Familia Chapter of Tioga County, said he wanted to get involved after seeing Whitmore’s Facebook page, Village of Nichols Veterans Memorial. La Familia, being a nonprofit that raises funds for local causes, added this onto their list of causes to help because of Bartholomew’s regard for the cause. 

“It’s military based.” Bartholomew said, “We’re building something that will be everlasting in the community itself, and we know that we’ll be a part of it.”

Bartholomew is keeping the route of the ride a secret for the sake of the surprise, but he promises a slower scenic ride starting at the Nichols American Legion with five stops for riders to stretch their legs and take part in the 50/50 raffles and best poker hand game — at each stop a rider who is entered in the poker hand game receives a card; at the end of the ride, the rider with the best hand wins. Bartholomew said the winners almost always donate back to the cause. 

Besides raising money for Whitmore, Bartholomew always appreciates a chance to show the community what motorcycle clubs are really about. 

“I don’t want people to be afraid of us,” he said. With the tattoos, leather, bandanas and bikes, La Familia at its core is a nonprofit organization that serves the community and shares a love of motorcycles. He says that La Familia never makes any revenue off of their fundraisers, and in fact, individual members put their own money into many of the events through services and donations. 

In the recent past, the Tioga County Chapter of La Familia has hosted events benefiting a family with premature twins, a young girl’s cancer treatments, and its Toys for Tots event back in December.

This is not the only way Whitmore has raised funds for her Gold Award project. She has also hosted a community yard sale and pancake breakfast to raise funds for the memorial, which will be located next to the Nichols Fire Department. She is going for the gold. In Girl Scouts, the Gold Award is the highest achievement; some relate it to the more known Eagle Scout achievement in Boy Scouts.   

The Veterans Memorial Fund Ride will take place July 27, with kickstands up at the Nichols American Legion at 11 a.m. Riders pay $20, passengers pay $10 with all money being donated to Whitmore’s project.