“Get your 50/50 tickets!”
This refrain was often heard from Lenny.
Lenny is always around to lend a hand for any event that benefits someone in the community. He can often be seen with a roll of tickets and a collection bucket to raise that little bit extra at the end of a ride or benefit dinner. But over the months of winter, that was not to be and others had to step up and sell those 50/50 tickets. And Lenny was missed.
On Sept. 26, 2009, Lenny Scarantino left Wilkes-Barre on a ride to New Hope. This ride was a part of the four-corners patch for his club, the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club. The day started out like any other ride, with everyone in good spirits and looking forward to the trip. Lenny took that trip along with his nephew enjoying the road family-style along with his many friends.
The ride went well, and everyone had a great time. Then it was time to go. Lenny and his nephew decided to take the road less traveled and not join the rest of the group heading home. That was when disaster struck. As they were traveling a back road, several deer jumped out in front of them, and both bikes went down. Lucky for Lenny, he was not alone.
“It all happened so quick, no time to think, no time to do nothing,” Lenny said. “Good thing I had my helmet on and the bike had crash bars.”
Lenny spent the next three months in and out of the hospital. He said he had “broken ribs, collapsed lung, and after a month there was fluid on the brain and (I) needed surgery. They put a drain in my head. I spent two weeks in Mercy (Hospital) and the rest of the time down at (Wilkes-Barre) General (Hospital.) I got to come home on the day before Thanksgiving and then went back again.”
Do you think your age played any part in the accident?, I asked.
“No,” he said emphatically. “The deer jumped out, and I was with my nephew; I really don’t remember anything. … Good thing I was riding with someone; you should always ride with someone.”
Here Lenny is quite correct. You should not ride alone, especially at night when cars have a harder time seeing you on your bike. One thing that Lenny does remember is his nephew taking off his helmet.
“I was having trouble breathing, and he took off my helmet,” Lenny said.
I asked him how he felt about being on the receiving end of a benefit and how this event get started.
“At the ABATE (Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education) meeting, Stephanie (Jallen) said she’d love to help. She’s an amazing young woman with a big heart.” Lenny related how Stephanie “came to the hospital, and she brought me teddy bears, her and her mom and their friend Bob Wineman. It was touching to have this young woman take time out of her busy schedule for me.”
Lenny mused, “I help out too. … I never (thought) I’d have (a benefit) for myself. I work for Steph’s ride. You’d be surprised that what you give you receive.”
For those of you who don’t know Stephanie Jallen, she’s one dynamite young lady who is working hard toward a goal of being in, and winning gold, in the Winter Paralympic Games in 2014. I know that she will make it! I met Stephanie at a benefit ride held for her a few years ago and have watched her grow and give back to the community with a wide open heart and a selfless attitude. You can find out more about Stephanie at her Web site, www.stephaniejallen.org.
So on Sunday, March 14, she is in charge of the Lenny Scarantino benefit breakfast to be held from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Germania Hose Company (430 Foote Ave, Duryea). Ten dollars will buy you all you can, eat and of course there will be a 50/50 raffle!
Stephanie and friends have a motto that she follows: “Believe in yourself — determination.” With all that support, Lenny can’t do other than to get better quickly. And he better get well soon, as riding weather is coming and he just bought a new bike.
I asked him if he had any second thoughts about getting back on a bike. He replied quickly, “I’ll never give up riding. I’m 66 and going strong. I’ve been riding since I was 22.”
Good luck Lenny.
w
| Tweet | Follow @wkdr |
|
|
