Ok, a friend of mine, John, who wants to get into stunting and worships the sport got hit hard last week. His wife passed away early last week, how I'm not sure yet. BUT, this is what I do know!
He has almost $800 in the bank. His wife's funeral was $10,000. A place that was already going to paint his plastics and powdercoat his wheels for $600 now wants to raise the price to $1150(gouging!), this was part of the deal so he could sell his 929 in order to have money to buy an F4i to stunt out. On top of all of this, his wife was going to KU med and had a ton of financial aid bills, but they disolved upon her death. Unfortunately, they had to take out over $12,000 in loans for other expenses for her school. Those, since he was a cosigner and married to her are going to now be 100% HIS responsibility. After talking to Marc, JowalskiMO, we've decided a charity ride to try and help him out would be the best way we knew how to help him get through this financially and emotionally!

This couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Ask Dan Jackson, Johnny seals, Marc Brotemarkle(JowalskiMO), and Greg from KCsMostWanted about him. I'm sure they could tell you he may not have been the best rider just yet, but always brought a cooler full of drinks for anyone when it was hot outside, and would help any way he could. He may not have been the guy who was in your favorite stunt video, but he's the guy who would be BUYING the videos!

We'll most likely be setting up some sort of fund for those people who can't make it to KC, but would like to help. Also if the StreetFighterZ would be willing to make an appearance and support the ride, we would like to put their names on the flier. We're hoping to possibly get some t-shirt type donations to possibly auction off after the ride and have a designated area for the "experienced stunters" to show their skills after the ride.

Obviously, we probably won't be able to raise enough money to pay for everything or get him his F4i. But, I'm sure whatever we can raise would help financially and emotionally.

 

I went by his house and talked to him, his wife passed suddenly after getting sick. They're not even sure what made her sick, so now he has to wait 6 weeks to even know how she died!

Talking to some bike shops and a restaurant or two and see who could donate money, parts, or gift certificates for a raffle.

We want to try and keep the ride route as interesting as possible for everyone, without being overly long. So we'll have a short stretch of twisties for the guys who love corners (about 4-5 25 mph hairpin corners), some nice long straightawyas and smooth corners for the highway junkies, ending up at a lot or street thats shut down for a stunt show.

We're going to try and have a small charge if people want food after the ride, since we are more than likely going to get it at a reduced price versus free, and possibly offer shirts and/or stickers for sale before the ride. And after everything, we're hoping to have enough "goodies" to be able to have a raffle for those who want to participate in that. Jowalski already has a shirt and flat gixxer 12- bar from Sick Innovations, so obviously Thank You to them for their support!

 

Just an Update:

D2Cycles in Liberty already donated two Dunlop D218's and is going to mount and balance them for free for whoever wins it in the raffle.

Looking and calling for anyone who has shirts, cd's, dvd's, giftcards maybe, ....whatever we can get to be involved in the raffle. Cafe Racer is going to call me back and KCTony is going to talk to a friend who runs a cycle shop up north.

Ultimately if we could give him a check to help with bills I'm sure it would help.....BUT, if we could raise roughly 2200-2500, D2Cycles has an 05 F4i in Ohio that has been totalled out (and he's sending me pictures of it) and he agreed he could pick it up when he's getting other bikes there and will sell it at his cost. The front end of the bike is smashed, but he has some 929 front end parts he's also agreed to donate.....so obviously THANX to Dean there for being overly generous and helping out. Hopefully we can get more places to show this much support!

 

josh or claire, when you get a chance can you post the new flyer up in the styunt discussion thread? I never remembered to get a copy of it