2020 has been one of the most challenging years for any non-profit or small business owner with COVID-19 hitting our community here in Colorado and nationwide. As Executive Director of BikerDown, my job is to get as creative as possible with fundraising activities and I believe that this wheelchair competition shows how a small non-profit can think outside the box.
BikerDown is planning our first medical equipment drive and fundraiser through an exciting contest where competing groups submit customized wheelchairs for prizes. All attendees of the event are encouraged to clear out some storage space and donate gently-used medical equipment to BikerDown so that we can replenish our equipment and help even more injured bikers.
September 5, 2020
On September 5th at the Can You SEE me Now motorcycle awareness ride, 10 teams of motorcycle clubs, riding groups and bike builders will show just how creative they can get with a standard wheelchair and present their final customized wheelchair in bike-show fashion Teams will compete for prizes and trophies and the coveted People’s Choice award. BikerDown has brought in 3 great judges to judge the competition and the attendees at will vote for their favorite teams’ wheelchair.
This is a new innovative way to add medical equipment to our arsenal to help injured riders. An injured rider will never be charged for medical equipment from BikerDown. A motorcycle rider recovering never wants to be in a wheelchair, but when we bring them these tricked out chairs, they always have a smile on their faces because they know it was created with love and respect.
Thank you to Rider Justice for continuing their sponsorship of the Look Twice Save A Life Ride and for helping with our medical equipment drive here in Colorado buy buying wheelchairs for this competition. (Also, at the Sept. 5 event, Rider Justice will be drawing for the winner of the Honda Monkey!)
The Original Wheelchair Competition
The wheelchair competition was 1st launched in February by our Las Vegas BikerDown Chapter to build inventory for this start-up chapter. Executive Director, Cerah Venturo and Dazzlin 2-wheel division Manager from Vegas sponsor Full Throttle Law created a tremendous event and brought the motorcycle community together to make this a fun event with a DJ, food and a medical equipment rodeo. Not only did the chapter have 10 amazing chairs at the end of the day, but the community donated so much medical equipment, that they had to rent a 26 ft. U-Haul to get it to the storage garage.
BikerDown is celebrating our 10th year of helping injured motorcycle riders and hosts the National chapter. It is our hope that the Colorado riding community will come out on September 5th, enjoy a great ride, and share our hope to do everything our community can to help injured motorcycle riders with their recovery.
We still have a few spots available for this competition, if you are interested, please contact Laurie Montoya: laurie@bikerdown.org.
If you have any gently used medical equipment, bring that equipment Saturday, September 5th to Dirty Dogs Roadhouse and donate it at our collection area.
