limobugdude
lakewood
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Joined: 05/05/2008
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HELP US HELP OURSELVES
To all my Brother Bikers:
The reason for this letter is to bring awareness to what we do as bikers. We go on the Love Ride here in Southern California and raise a few million dollars in one weekend and never see where it goes. What I’m proposing is to have a page in your magazine where donations can be made directly to fellow downed bikers so we can see results, like on the toy ride where we go to hospitals and give the toys directly to the kids and see the smiles on their faces, making them and ourselves feel great - not giving to a cause and letting someone else get all the glory or to a charity where the cost of running it is 90%, leaving only 10% for the people who really need it.
I’m talking about a page where we give to each other. A downed biker can send in a photo along with a list of what he needs, such as a wheelchair ($4,000), electric wheelchair ($10,000), handicapped van ($45,000), ramps in the house ($3,000), widen bathroom doors and roll-in shower ($5,000), a hospital-type bed ($3,000), and possibly even a Harley Davidson trike that someone in a wheelchair could ride ($50,000). To make sure the biker qualifies, he must send in some type of proof that he is a Harley Davidson biker - no bull**** bikers, no street bikes, no motocross, no quads, no rice rockets or other street bikes, only Harley Davidson riders. The type of proof should be a photo of the biker and their bike, a copy of their registration showing that the bike was registered in their name, whether or not they are a hog member, whether or not they are a local hog chapter member, a police report that states they were hurt on their bike and that they were on a Harley, letters from other bikers in their community, and/or copies of subscriptions to Harley Davidson magazines.
This would be about real Harley Davidson people giving to other Harley Davidson people in need. We, as bikers, are used to giving, not receiving, so it is hard for me to ask for help.
I’m talking about guys like me, on a 2002 Road King I bought new on September 7, 2001 and put 33,000 miles on it and never came close to having an accident.
Then, coming back from Sturgis, South Dakota, on August 14, 2006, I went around a turn in the mountains and went off the road and hit a sign post with my back, breaking it in four places, collapsing one lung and puncturing the other, breaking every rib but two, plus all kinds of other internal injuries, and getting infections and pneumonia. I am now paralyzed and instead of having a badass harley in my garage i got 3 wheelchairs!!!!!
Now I need a new type of wheels, a wheelchair. Try living your life in a chair, day and night, when you’re used to riding with your bros almost daily and with the mid-cities hog chapter on weekends. (I’ve been a member for 6 years, but could not afford to join this year.) That’s when you realize sometimes life really sucks.
I need a lot of help from the biker community. We all give to charity or go on charity rides, and we give to kids, animals, rehab houses, police and fire departments, the military, and downed bikers on bike night, but what about us, the guys riding Harley Davidsons, who go down and need more than a one-time charity night on bike night? Yes, that’s great and helped tremendously for about two weeks. Then it seems we all forget about our downed brothers, who are downed permanently. Why can’t we give to ourselves? I’m not talking about all motorcyclists,
I don’t qualify for most charities because I bought my house in 1992 for $225,000 and it is now worth $525,000, so I am over-qualified. I get $1400 a month from disability, my house mortgage is $850 a month and bills are another $400. I’m living on about $50 a week, which can hardly buy a piece of chrome from the Harley Davidson shop. I know that I could refinance my house, but that would raise the house payment.
So please help us help ourselves by starting a charity page. Companies like Harley Davidson (who donated $5 million to Katrina relief), Orange County Choppers, who have big money and donate to charities all the time, can donate to their own kind, to people who will appreciate it and thank them from the bottom of their hearts and not to a charity where they will never see a smiling face. What I’m proposing is that we start helping our own.
Here’s a copy of my profile.
1.motorcycle license since 1977
2.hog member 6 years #us1731570
3.hog chapter member 6 years
4.police report showing I was on a Harley when injured
5.registration and ins. In my name
6.photo of me and bike
7.photo of me and willy g at Harleys 100 anniversary bash
8.6 year subscription to easy rider and in the wind
Thanks,
Gene Saraceno
562-420-1726
limobugdude@aol.com
hog # us1731570
ps;if you think I have a good point call me or email me and ill send photos
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mcjack
Hollywood, FL
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Joined: 01/02/2008
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I'm a Harley rider. Love everything about Harley Davidson. I've ridden my 2000 ElectraGlide 78,000 miles. Hate to hear of your crash and the unfortunate situation you face. BUT- Your condesending attitude toward any biker that rides anything brand but Harley will not win you many friends. Good Luck.
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limobugdude
lakewood
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Joined: 05/05/2008
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hi,my letter is about no support from H-D and H.O.G.. once a rider is un able to ride anymore i think hog should have a charity for its permantly down riders,guys like me.i love all moyorcycles ive ridden and owned all makes and raced motocross 7 years and desert 11 years with 36 years constant experance .i am not a h-d only guy , this letter is mainly to h-d and hog people since we give to all chairites but dont have one for ourselvs.thanks for responding i like hearing all opinions GENO
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