Freeloaders reduce SOS ride result

SOS Edgecumbe charity ride organiser Tony Ngawhika is disheartened at the number of non-registered riders. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

SOS Edgecumbe Charity ride organiser Tony Ngawhika is disheartened today about the large numbers of ‘charity' riders who didn't donate anything in the weekend fundraiser.

Of the near 500 riders who turned up for the ride, a couple of hundred of them didn't give anything for the cause, says Tony.

'We had over just under 500 bikes turn up.

'The annoying part of it was a lot of them didn't register - a few hundred actually - which was really depressing.”

And a lot of the car clubs that said they would turn up, didn't show, says Tony.

The charity ride still raised $5000 for Edgecumbe flood victims.

'So that was pretty cool.”

The funds raised will go directly to the Edgecumbe community to provide food, facilities, equipment and other essential items.

The ride cost $10 per rider and badges cost $10.

Tony says he sold most of the T-shirts, but there are still a lot of badges left over.

'They got paid for by the (SOS Edgecumbe) trust. There's a lot left over that didn't get sold, only because people didn't register. It's real disheartening.”

Edgecumbe people can apply for the funds though the Whakatane Radio station 1XX, says Tony.

The riders started from Mount Maunganui at 11am on Saturday and headed down the Tauranga Eastern Link to Whakatane, then back to Matata for a stop and a regathering before going on to Edgecumbe to join in with the Family Day at the Edgecumbe Rugby Club.

East Coast Harley-Davidson, Amy Anderson Design, Smith's Motorcyles, Bayride Motorcycles, Prestige Motorcycles, Hostile Customs and Mount Mellick also put their support behind the ride.

In 2017, the inaugural charity ride drew over 400 motorcycles. That event was organised within four short weeks of the floods that struck the town in April 2017.

Funds raised from the ride were administered through the SOS Edgecumbe Trust to help families.

Residents are still faced with restoring their homes and lives.

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1 comment

Why focus on the negative?

Posted on 29-05-2018 10:48 | By Lvdw

Why on earth focus on the negative? Why not focus on the positive side of things and the fantastic amount raised for a good cause? No friends will be gained by moaning.


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