The Blessing of the Bikes is an annual event in which motorcycles and riders are blessed to bring safety to the upcoming riding season.
This year The Widows’ Sons Masonic Riding Association is hosting a Blessing of the Bikes fundraiser in support of prostate & bladder cancer treatment.
According to organizer Gary Crane, the blessing will welcome riders and non-riders to attend a service outside the Iron Rooster restaurant.
“In the beginning they’ll say a little prayer for people who passed away last year in accidents” explained Crane, “Then they’ll go around and bless each bike individually. There’ll be a passing of the helmet to collect funds. After the event, we’re going to go into the Iron Rooster and there’ll be some raffle prizes, a 5050 draw”
Crane told My Bancroft Now:
“The Iron Rooster is putting together a limited menu and they’re going to donate part of the proceeds and we’re hoping to raise some good money to help a good cause”
Reverend Michael Winstanley of Steel Wheels Ministries will bless the bikes.
Crane said this is the fourth year the Widow’s Sons have done a bike blessing, but others have happened across North America for years.
“The largest one I know of is the one in Michigan” said Crane, “That’s 4,000 bikes they do in a day. I think the one in Truro, Nova Scotia, it’s probably around 2,000 bikes”
According to Crane, all funds raised at the event will go through the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation to the Quinte Health Cystoscopy program to help with detection and treatment of bladder and prostate cancer.
“We all know someone who has been touched by this horrible disease,” said Crane, “In the Quinte region we are so fortunate to have such great health care professionals helping to combat this disease, and we want to make sure that they have the tools to do the job”
The event will take place Saturday June 22 at the Iron Rooster in Marmora.