ROCKINGHAM — Members of Richmond County’s motorcycle community opened their hearts and their wallets for a ride Sunday afternoon to support their “family,” raising around $10,000.
Around 100 local bikers roared out of the parking lot of Crossroads Saloon just after 1:30 p.m. for the Caleb Bundy Memorial Ride — which was originally slated for Saturday but rescheduled because of the threat of thunderstorms.
The benefit was to raise money to purchase a headstone for the late Caleb Bundy, an 11-year-old who tragically lost his life last November. Bundy was the grandson of Crossroads owners Roger and Tammy Messer and Ol Skool Tribe Riding Club member Marty Bundy.
The bikers rode up Cartledge Creek Road and made a stop at Bethel Church Cemetery, where Caleb is buried, then made a stop at the Hide-A-Way Tavern before ending at VFW Post 4203 in Rockingham.
There was no set fee for the ride, however organizers did take donations. Roger Messer said that bikers will sometimes give more in those cases.
In this case, they donated more than $4,800.
After eating, Roger Messer called out the winners of door prizes and Marty Bundy helped show off the auction items as bids were made.
One item, a memorial quilt made by Oma Longhorn, went for $500 and Gary “Goat” Coats donated it back to Caleb’s mother, Kayla Bundy Messer, which she accepted with tears in her eyes.
During the auction, which raised around $3,000, two items were donated back to bring in more money.
Allison Ussery, who won the 50/50, also gave the winnings back to the cause.
When Roger Messer and Marty Bundy thanked the riders on behalf of the family, one of the bikers shouted back that they were all part of the family.
Chris Sachs, owner of the Hide-A-Way who temporarily took over auctioning to give Roger Messer a break, said that bikers are some of the most giving people in the county.
“This has been such an awesome turnout,” Roger Messer told the crowd. “Makes me glad to be part of this community.”
