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| Bikers with a Mission Kansas City's 19th Annual "BWAM" Ride |
By Eric Rossiter
One wrong step is all it takes
sometimes. One wrong word or
deed can be the undoing of all
you’ve worked years for. I’m
talking about the loss of the
almighty weekly paycheck and
the stress, fear and sometimes
material losses that are
manifested because of it. Have
you ever thought of what it must
be like to be homeless? Think
about it for a minute. What if
you had absolutely no place to
go? No place to call “home.”
For many of KC’s indigent and
down-trodden the City Union
Mission fulfills that which Maslow
defines as a most “basic” need.
For 19 years Kansas City’s
bikers have rallied to the call
and for 19 years they have
ridden for the homeless. Bikers
with a mission.
And so it was on May 4th 2008
that myself, members of Chapter
38 of the Freedom Cruisers and
about 400 of our closest biker
buddies ascended on the corner
of 11th and Troost to assist
those in need and to carry on
the biker tradition of riding for
those less fortunate. Big twins
and bigger hearts came from all
over the Metro. Bikes of every
shape, size and make thundered
through the city as they made
their way toward the registration
point. We filled up the street for
an entire city block, two parking
lots and then some. The sun
was out, the sky was clear and
you could tell that spring truly
was in the air. The very long
winter that we’d struggled with
and waited to be over was
indeed that; over.
What’s the first thing you do
after registering for an event in
the spring in Kansas City? That’
s right, you start peelin off some
gear. It’s already 10 degrees
warmer than when you got here
so that outer layer that was for
the mornings ride in has got to
go. When everyone is ready we’
re going to run up through north
town and then stay on 9 through
Parkville. We’ll pick up 45 and
motor northwest and angle our
way out towards Leavenworth.
Everyone ready? After a quick
safety briefing and a review of
hand signals we fire up our iron
steeds, and weave our way
through traffic cones and
photographers and begin our
route for the day. Y’all settle in
for the ride and I’ll slip you the
low down on this groovy vibe,
man.
Guy Girratono and the
Disciples of Jesus Ministries
along with assistance from
Freedom of Road Riders
originally established the BWAM
ride. Over the past 19 years the
BWAM ride has generated
almost a half a million dollars for
the City Union Mission. Every
dollar raised goes to the City
Union Missions operational fund
to provide for Kansas City’s
homeless, hungry, and
spiritually needy. Everyday
dozens of people in Kansas City
turn to the Mission for food and
shelter. There they also find
people who will listen to them,
care for them, and help them get
back on their feet. The money
raised during this ride also helps
pay for everything from tooth
brushes, eye-glasses, bus fare
for job interviews and much,
much more.
We’re on 45 hi way, having
made it through town and now
we’re picking up speed. I have a
dozen Freedom Cruisers in my
mirror behind me. We look good
as we cruise along in our two-
second, staggered formation. I
check my mirrors again and the
line of bikes has grown longer.
Folks are starting to catch up.
No need to hurry though, the
day is fine and long and I’m in
the wind. We turn west on the
45 Spur and I notice the empty
house on the north side of the
road. Years ago, before the
floods of ‘92, the land on each
of side of us and this empty little
house were someone’s thriving
farmland and farmhouse. But
after the Missouri receded there
was nothing left but silt and
weeds and so it remains to this
day. The unfortunate soul or
souls that worked that land
weren’t able to recover from the
wrath of Mother Nature. Such is
life in the flood plains when you’
re at the mercy of the Mighty
MO. Speak of the devil, we
hook a left on 92 and head west
toward Leavenworth, which is
going to take us right over the
river. Yo Dude! Don’t be
daydreamin and gawkin at the
river… pay attention to what you’
re doing and maintain your
stagger! Ok, where was I?
Oh yeah, I remember. From
the City Union Mission’s website
at http://www.cumission.
org/About.htm. “Since 1924,
City Union Mission has provided
warm beds, nutritious food and a
place of safety for thousands of
poverty stricken and homeless
men, women and children… The
Mission depends completely on
the gifts of God's people--
individuals, churches, groups,
foundations and businesses who
care about the poor and
homeless.” The City Union
Mission is also the largest
rescue mission in a six-state
area. I’ll bet you didn’t know
that, did you? But that’s why y’
all pay me the big bucks to do all
the heavy lifting required to
impart such jewels of wisdom
and knowledge. All free of
charge I might add.
We putt west past the prison
and slip down a side street to
end up at a general store and
fuel stop. We wheel in and we’
re the only bikes here right now,
with about 2 dozen of us all lined
up in a row. I dismounted and
casually started heading for the
door to my personal oasis and
the Holy Grail that lied within this
little store that had been placed
here on Earth specifically for my
use at this particular time and
place in the cosmos. That’s
right, had to use the can, man.
The three cups of coffee and a
12 oz/ water that I had for
breakfast had been weighing
heavily since just this side of
Parkville. I was hoping for a
quick entrance to and a place at
the head of a line that I knew
was about to start growing
exponentially longer as I heard
the thunder of another group of
route riding scooters rolling into
the parking lot. Now, while God
had seen fit to place this little
golden gem on the corner of
delightful bliss, she did not see
fit to inhabit it with individuals
that felt the need to increase
their pace as the line in front of
the counter grew past double
digits. After what seemed like
an agonizingly long time, our
merry band of leather clad
knights were once again astride
our steeds and off into the wind.
We head west on 92 on the way
to our checkpoint in McLouth
KS.
As I noted above, all the
monies generated by
participation in the ride, t-shirt
sales, book sales, etc. goes for
the operational costs of the City
Union Mission. All overhead
costs are paid for by the
generous sponsors of the event,
without whom, there would be no
event. The 2008 BWAM
Titanium Sponsors include: Gail’
s Harley Davidson, Engle
Motors, Inc, Shawnee Craft
Plaza, Grandview Top Company,
Bank of Blue Valley and Wal-
Mart. The 2008 BWAM Chrome
Sponsors include: KC Creations,
A and A Bumper Plating Inc.,
The Blue Knights, Heart of God
Fellowship, Christian Motorcycle
Association, Freedom of Road
Riders, and Wilde Weavery.
The 2208 BWAM Steel
Sponsors include Blue Springs
Harley Davidson, Wade’s Two
Wheelers and FORR Local 2.
The 2008 BWAM Gift in Kind
sponsors make up quite a
lengthy list and are available for
viewing at http://www.
bikerswithamission.
org/2008sponsors.
We rolled into McLouth KS on
a sleepy Sunday morning and a
more idyllic location could not
have been found. The
checkpoint was supposed to be
Casey’s but by the time we got
there the bikes were parked
down the side street and around
the block. I followed the big
burly guys like a smart
motorcycle enthusiast should,
and when we got to the end of
the line we added another 2
dozen to the mix. We had our
voucher signed, in order to get
either, depending on how many
times you’ve attended this
event. A couple of quick
smokes if you got’em and a few
rounds of pictures and we’re
back on the two lane and
headed back towards KC.
Time for a little more of that
heavy lifting I was talking about
earlier. The City Union Mission
isn’t just a “place for some
homeless guys” as I’ve heard it
put by the ignorant few. The
City Union Mission is much more
than that and is an integral part
of the Kansas City community.
From the Mission’s website
“Here are several good reasons
why that is true:
City Union Mission is an
evangelical Christian ministry
committed to sharing the gospel
and meeting the spiritual,
physical and emotional needs of
men, women and children who
are poor or homeless.
Last year, 368 guests
committed their lives to Christ at
City Union Mission.
City Union Mission served over
314,000 meals for the hungry
and provided over 131,000 beds
for the weary in 2007.
City Union Mission's doors are
open 365 days a year, 24 hours
a day.
City Union Mission offers half of
the emergency shelter beds in
downtown Kansas City, with both
a men’s shelter and a
women/family shelter.
City Union Mission does not
receive government funding; we
rely completely on support from
individuals, businesses,
foundations, organizations and
churches.
City Union Mission celebrates
its 84th anniversary in 2008; the
doors opened on September 15,
1924.
City Union Mission is the only
shelter in Kansas City with
infirmary beds for those who are
ill or injured.
City Union Mission operates
the Hotline for the Homeless,
which allows the homeless to call
a single number to find available
shelter in the area.
City Union Mission prevents
homelessness through
community assistance, such as
assisting community clients with
bills, school supplies, clothing,
food, and holiday projects.
City Union Mission hosts a
camp in the Ozarks, CAMP
CUMCITO, for 500 low-income
children during the summer.
City Union Mission holds after-
school programs for low-income
children including tutoring and
activities.
City Union Mission offers
Learning Centers at the Men’s
Center and Family Center that
assist guests with building
resumes, obtaining GEDs, SAT
preparation, tutoring, and more.”
On Tuesday, April 1 The City
Union Mission had a ribbon
cutting ceremony for the new
Christian Life Program (CLP)
facility. The new facility is part
of the Capital Campaign began
in 2006. The project includes
the new 30,000 square foot
facility and renovations to the
existing Mission’s men facility
doubling capacity there to 300.
The Mission also recently
renovated the Family Center
and Camp CUMCITO, located in
Warsaw, MO.
We came into Tonganoxie from
the west on 12 and picked up
24/40 to continue out journey
eastward. The Speedway is
awesome when it comes into
view and I totally dig riding
around it. We made the slow
journey around the boulevard
and picked up I-70 for a short
run back into downtown KC. I
was doing really well until this
point, but I missed the last
freakin turn. Luckily the third in
line was awake and made the
correct left and took the group
the rest of the way into the
Mission and only two of us had
to go up a block and turn
around. Oh well, we were the
lucky two to take the “scenic
route.”
If you’re still with me at this
point, I am about to reveal the
real reason bikers ride hundreds
of miles in all types of weather
for causes such as this. Forget
all the stuff I wrote above about
helping people and helping the
community and being a Christian
Ministry and all that other fluff.
The REAL reason bikers come
from all over in all kinds of
weather to donate their time and
money… is chili-dogs, chips,
cookies and Coca-Cola. The 4
“C’s” baby! Food of the Gods!!
Sustenance for all races of
mankind since the beginning of
time!!! Sorry, I got carried away;
I think it was the brownies. Oh
yeah, there were brownies too,
and cake. Cake or death!!
Cake please… (it’s an old bit by
Eddie Izzard in drag) …never
mind. The food-stuffs were in
abundance and I personally
found it to be a highly successful
munch. I know in the courtyard
of the new facility where I sat I
was surrounded by people but it
sure was quiet. Everyone was
busy chowin down on some
good eats.
Entertainment for the event
was provided by Jody Jarrett,
Randy Davenport and AZ-U-R.
AZ-U-R totally rocked the house
with re-writes of some current
hits and timeless classics to fit
into the inspirational theme of
the Gospel. The Rev. John
Jarrett provided Gospel
fellowship and quoting of
scripture. The closing remarks
for the day were made by
Colonel (Teddy Bitner),
President of Cycle Disciples.
The Colonel also presented the
check to the City Union Mission
for this year’s proceeds, which
totaled over $22,000.00.
This was an awesome charity
ride and I enjoyed it immensely.
I encourage anyone who is into
group rides of this kind to be
sure and mark this one down on
your calendar for next year.
The BWAM ride is always the
first Sunday in May. To my
knowledge everyone made the
ride safely with no accidents or
mishaps. I look forward to
seeing everyone next year!
One wrong step is all it takes
sometimes. One wrong word or
deed can be the undoing of all
you’ve worked years for. I’m
talking about the loss of the
almighty weekly paycheck and
the stress, fear and sometimes
material losses that are
manifested because of it. Have
you ever thought of what it must
be like to be homeless? Think
about it for a minute. What if
you had absolutely no place to
go? No place to call “home.”
For many of KC’s indigent and
down-trodden the City Union
Mission fulfills that which Maslow
defines as a most “basic” need.
For 19 years Kansas City’s
bikers have rallied to the call
and for 19 years they have
ridden for the homeless. Bikers
with a mission.
And so it was on May 4th 2008
that myself, members of Chapter
38 of the Freedom Cruisers and
about 400 of our closest biker
buddies ascended on the corner
of 11th and Troost to assist
those in need and to carry on
the biker tradition of riding for
those less fortunate. Big twins
and bigger hearts came from all
over the Metro. Bikes of every
shape, size and make thundered
through the city as they made
their way toward the registration
point. We filled up the street for
an entire city block, two parking
lots and then some. The sun
was out, the sky was clear and
you could tell that spring truly
was in the air. The very long
winter that we’d struggled with
and waited to be over was
indeed that; over.
What’s the first thing you do
after registering for an event in
the spring in Kansas City? That’
s right, you start peelin off some
gear. It’s already 10 degrees
warmer than when you got here
so that outer layer that was for
the mornings ride in has got to
go. When everyone is ready we’
re going to run up through north
town and then stay on 9 through
Parkville. We’ll pick up 45 and
motor northwest and angle our
way out towards Leavenworth.
Everyone ready? After a quick
safety briefing and a review of
hand signals we fire up our iron
steeds, and weave our way
through traffic cones and
photographers and begin our
route for the day. Y’all settle in
for the ride and I’ll slip you the
low down on this groovy vibe,
man.
Guy Girratono and the
Disciples of Jesus Ministries
along with assistance from
Freedom of Road Riders
originally established the BWAM
ride. Over the past 19 years the
BWAM ride has generated
almost a half a million dollars for
the City Union Mission. Every
dollar raised goes to the City
Union Missions operational fund
to provide for Kansas City’s
homeless, hungry, and
spiritually needy. Everyday
dozens of people in Kansas City
turn to the Mission for food and
shelter. There they also find
people who will listen to them,
care for them, and help them get
back on their feet. The money
raised during this ride also helps
pay for everything from tooth
brushes, eye-glasses, bus fare
for job interviews and much,
much more.
We’re on 45 hi way, having
made it through town and now
we’re picking up speed. I have a
dozen Freedom Cruisers in my
mirror behind me. We look good
as we cruise along in our two-
second, staggered formation. I
check my mirrors again and the
line of bikes has grown longer.
Folks are starting to catch up.
No need to hurry though, the
day is fine and long and I’m in
the wind. We turn west on the
45 Spur and I notice the empty
house on the north side of the
road. Years ago, before the
floods of ‘92, the land on each
of side of us and this empty little
house were someone’s thriving
farmland and farmhouse. But
after the Missouri receded there
was nothing left but silt and
weeds and so it remains to this
day. The unfortunate soul or
souls that worked that land
weren’t able to recover from the
wrath of Mother Nature. Such is
life in the flood plains when you’
re at the mercy of the Mighty
MO. Speak of the devil, we
hook a left on 92 and head west
toward Leavenworth, which is
going to take us right over the
river. Yo Dude! Don’t be
daydreamin and gawkin at the
river… pay attention to what you’
re doing and maintain your
stagger! Ok, where was I?
Oh yeah, I remember. From
the City Union Mission’s website
at http://www.cumission.
org/About.htm. “Since 1924,
City Union Mission has provided
warm beds, nutritious food and a
place of safety for thousands of
poverty stricken and homeless
men, women and children… The
Mission depends completely on
the gifts of God's people--
individuals, churches, groups,
foundations and businesses who
care about the poor and
homeless.” The City Union
Mission is also the largest
rescue mission in a six-state
area. I’ll bet you didn’t know
that, did you? But that’s why y’
all pay me the big bucks to do all
the heavy lifting required to
impart such jewels of wisdom
and knowledge. All free of
charge I might add.
We putt west past the prison
and slip down a side street to
end up at a general store and
fuel stop. We wheel in and we’
re the only bikes here right now,
with about 2 dozen of us all lined
up in a row. I dismounted and
casually started heading for the
door to my personal oasis and
the Holy Grail that lied within this
little store that had been placed
here on Earth specifically for my
use at this particular time and
place in the cosmos. That’s
right, had to use the can, man.
The three cups of coffee and a
12 oz/ water that I had for
breakfast had been weighing
heavily since just this side of
Parkville. I was hoping for a
quick entrance to and a place at
the head of a line that I knew
was about to start growing
exponentially longer as I heard
the thunder of another group of
route riding scooters rolling into
the parking lot. Now, while God
had seen fit to place this little
golden gem on the corner of
delightful bliss, she did not see
fit to inhabit it with individuals
that felt the need to increase
their pace as the line in front of
the counter grew past double
digits. After what seemed like
an agonizingly long time, our
merry band of leather clad
knights were once again astride
our steeds and off into the wind.
We head west on 92 on the way
to our checkpoint in McLouth
KS.
As I noted above, all the
monies generated by
participation in the ride, t-shirt
sales, book sales, etc. goes for
the operational costs of the City
Union Mission. All overhead
costs are paid for by the
generous sponsors of the event,
without whom, there would be no
event. The 2008 BWAM
Titanium Sponsors include: Gail’
s Harley Davidson, Engle
Motors, Inc, Shawnee Craft
Plaza, Grandview Top Company,
Bank of Blue Valley and Wal-
Mart. The 2008 BWAM Chrome
Sponsors include: KC Creations,
A and A Bumper Plating Inc.,
The Blue Knights, Heart of God
Fellowship, Christian Motorcycle
Association, Freedom of Road
Riders, and Wilde Weavery.
The 2208 BWAM Steel
Sponsors include Blue Springs
Harley Davidson, Wade’s Two
Wheelers and FORR Local 2.
The 2008 BWAM Gift in Kind
sponsors make up quite a
lengthy list and are available for
viewing at http://www.
bikerswithamission.
org/2008sponsors.
We rolled into McLouth KS on
a sleepy Sunday morning and a
more idyllic location could not
have been found. The
checkpoint was supposed to be
Casey’s but by the time we got
there the bikes were parked
down the side street and around
the block. I followed the big
burly guys like a smart
motorcycle enthusiast should,
and when we got to the end of
the line we added another 2
dozen to the mix. We had our
voucher signed, in order to get
either, depending on how many
times you’ve attended this
event. A couple of quick
smokes if you got’em and a few
rounds of pictures and we’re
back on the two lane and
headed back towards KC.
Time for a little more of that
heavy lifting I was talking about
earlier. The City Union Mission
isn’t just a “place for some
homeless guys” as I’ve heard it
put by the ignorant few. The
City Union Mission is much more
than that and is an integral part
of the Kansas City community.
From the Mission’s website
“Here are several good reasons
why that is true:
City Union Mission is an
evangelical Christian ministry
committed to sharing the gospel
and meeting the spiritual,
physical and emotional needs of
men, women and children who
are poor or homeless.
Last year, 368 guests
committed their lives to Christ at
City Union Mission.
City Union Mission served over
314,000 meals for the hungry
and provided over 131,000 beds
for the weary in 2007.
City Union Mission's doors are
open 365 days a year, 24 hours
a day.
City Union Mission offers half of
the emergency shelter beds in
downtown Kansas City, with both
a men’s shelter and a
women/family shelter.
City Union Mission does not
receive government funding; we
rely completely on support from
individuals, businesses,
foundations, organizations and
churches.
City Union Mission celebrates
its 84th anniversary in 2008; the
doors opened on September 15,
1924.
City Union Mission is the only
shelter in Kansas City with
infirmary beds for those who are
ill or injured.
City Union Mission operates
the Hotline for the Homeless,
which allows the homeless to call
a single number to find available
shelter in the area.
City Union Mission prevents
homelessness through
community assistance, such as
assisting community clients with
bills, school supplies, clothing,
food, and holiday projects.
City Union Mission hosts a
camp in the Ozarks, CAMP
CUMCITO, for 500 low-income
children during the summer.
City Union Mission holds after-
school programs for low-income
children including tutoring and
activities.
City Union Mission offers
Learning Centers at the Men’s
Center and Family Center that
assist guests with building
resumes, obtaining GEDs, SAT
preparation, tutoring, and more.”
On Tuesday, April 1 The City
Union Mission had a ribbon
cutting ceremony for the new
Christian Life Program (CLP)
facility. The new facility is part
of the Capital Campaign began
in 2006. The project includes
the new 30,000 square foot
facility and renovations to the
existing Mission’s men facility
doubling capacity there to 300.
The Mission also recently
renovated the Family Center
and Camp CUMCITO, located in
Warsaw, MO.
We came into Tonganoxie from
the west on 12 and picked up
24/40 to continue out journey
eastward. The Speedway is
awesome when it comes into
view and I totally dig riding
around it. We made the slow
journey around the boulevard
and picked up I-70 for a short
run back into downtown KC. I
was doing really well until this
point, but I missed the last
freakin turn. Luckily the third in
line was awake and made the
correct left and took the group
the rest of the way into the
Mission and only two of us had
to go up a block and turn
around. Oh well, we were the
lucky two to take the “scenic
route.”
If you’re still with me at this
point, I am about to reveal the
real reason bikers ride hundreds
of miles in all types of weather
for causes such as this. Forget
all the stuff I wrote above about
helping people and helping the
community and being a Christian
Ministry and all that other fluff.
The REAL reason bikers come
from all over in all kinds of
weather to donate their time and
money… is chili-dogs, chips,
cookies and Coca-Cola. The 4
“C’s” baby! Food of the Gods!!
Sustenance for all races of
mankind since the beginning of
time!!! Sorry, I got carried away;
I think it was the brownies. Oh
yeah, there were brownies too,
and cake. Cake or death!!
Cake please… (it’s an old bit by
Eddie Izzard in drag) …never
mind. The food-stuffs were in
abundance and I personally
found it to be a highly successful
munch. I know in the courtyard
of the new facility where I sat I
was surrounded by people but it
sure was quiet. Everyone was
busy chowin down on some
good eats.
Entertainment for the event
was provided by Jody Jarrett,
Randy Davenport and AZ-U-R.
AZ-U-R totally rocked the house
with re-writes of some current
hits and timeless classics to fit
into the inspirational theme of
the Gospel. The Rev. John
Jarrett provided Gospel
fellowship and quoting of
scripture. The closing remarks
for the day were made by
Colonel (Teddy Bitner),
President of Cycle Disciples.
The Colonel also presented the
check to the City Union Mission
for this year’s proceeds, which
totaled over $22,000.00.
This was an awesome charity
ride and I enjoyed it immensely.
I encourage anyone who is into
group rides of this kind to be
sure and mark this one down on
your calendar for next year.
The BWAM ride is always the
first Sunday in May. To my
knowledge everyone made the
ride safely with no accidents or
mishaps. I look forward to
seeing everyone next year!
| Click on photo for full-size picture |
