This past Sunday, the sun was out, though it was not very warm particularly in the morning. Yet the roar of motorcycle engines could be heard throughout the Valley. The epicenter of that noise was the Kingston Armory on Market Street. They were coming out for the kids. It was as sure a sign that spring was here as was any robin.
The 15th Annual Wyoming Valley Motorcycle and Power Sports Show took over the ground floor of the Armory for a fun day of motorsports and vendors. The proceeds from the show all go to a great cause, the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association (WVCA). The “First Lady” Gloria Hooper, wife of President Dave Hooper, was seen accepting the entry donations and greeting each visitor to the show with a warm smile and a thank you. Road captain Barry Lore and his lovely lady Julia Hass were working the big garage door and registering all the bikes as they entered the show.
I asked Barry why he and Julie chose to man the coldest post and come out on a Sunday; without hesitation he replied, “Because of the kids, all the money we raise goes to the kids.”
Two events during the show helped to get the audience involved. There was a fashion show featuring all the latest leather outfits for men, women and even children were presented by Pocono Mountain Leather of Ashley. The second event was the People’s Choice bike show awards. Hooper said that the winner of best of show was, “Tom Tito. He was awarded a 3-foot tall trophy and gift basket donated by Noto’s Harley-Davidson.”
In addition to the vendors and bike shops, the Sheriff’s office had a booth where Lt. Joyce and company were helping with children’s fingerprinting and ID information. The motorcycle division was out in full force as well adding their bikes to those in the show.
While walking around the floor, I ran into what I think was the littlest biker chick there. Little Lucy Martin was there with her mom and dad, Megan and Jeff Martin. She was all decked out in her little Harley shirt and hair ribbon. She was there to support the children that she didn’t even know. Her grandmother works for WVCA and they all came to support the effort knowing that their support was all for the kids.
“It’s neat to see all the bikes and the voting,” Jeff said. Of course dad drives a Harley Soft tail.
Dave Hooper estimated the crowd at 1,500. That is not too shabby a turnout for a Sunday in March in the Valley. He says that they raised roughly a bit more than $10,000 from this event.
“Aside from the money raised at the door for admission, we were able to raise money from the fee the dealers, vendors and clubs paid for a space at the show,” Hooper said. “We were also able to raise money with the program book that we made available for businesses to place an advertisement. Most importantly, we would have never been able to even get this show off the ground without the generous donation from M&T Bank as our main show sponsor.”
In these tough economic times, the hardest hit are those that have no voice and no political power, they don’t know any politicians. When funding is cut, it’s never for the powerful; it’s those things like the arts and education and special programs for children. These kids may not have a voice of their own, but they have angels that sometimes wear leather and roar to their aid on war horses of metal and chrome. Angels that give up their time to help make a difference in the life of a child, a child of this Valley.
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