By: Ricky Jimenez Carrasco
On a particularly windy Saturday, Rolling Thunder helped out the Transmountain Optimist club by organizing a run out to to the Desert Downs BMX track in Northeast El Paso. Transmountain Optimist Club has been running and operating the track for over 20 years, in cooperation with the City of El Paso. Dusty, President of Rolling Thunder NM1 says, “When the Optimist Club came to us for help, we, of course, responded. We came out here today because they were having other activities, a chili cook-off, RC track racing. It’s a good place for the families to get outside and have fun.”
One of the participants is Rolling Thunder’s newest member, Spc. Joseph Hudson, Army, Ret. who was one of seven soldiers captured and held as POWs in Nasiriyah, Iraq, in 2003. He had was held for 22 days before being rescued by US forces. Since Rolling Thunder primarily acts for POW/MIAs and Veteran’s rights, it was a natural fit for Hudson to be part of the organization. “It’s great to be free and participating with all the families out here. We support veterans 100%, but we came out today to support and recognize the kids who use this park. It’s too easy to be indoors today and be playing Call of Duty all day. They should be outside on their bikes!”
Category Featured |
Story and photos by: Ricky Jimenez Carrasco
“Love thy neighbor as thyself.” But does that mean only the people who live next to you? Or your friends or the people who are there? On Easter Sunday, the Seed of Abraham M/C, led by Pastor J.R. and Pastor Carol, brought some cheer to their “neighbors” who are currently facing unfortunate circumstances inside the new Children’s Hospital at University Medical Center. Through their own fundraising and labor, Seed created many gift baskets for the kids, boys and girls, older and younger.
Pastor J.R. told the media, “We wanted to bring some happiness to the kids who are undergoing some tough times. We brought them toys and teddy bears and other things to hopefully brighten their day (no candy as per hospital diet restrictions). We’d like them to have their happy day of celebration even though it’s sad that they’re here. It’s a wonderful act of kindness to be recieved by the hospital the way that we have.” Hospital staff created lists of the kids who were currently in the Pediatric ICU and other wards and seperated them into age and gender groups, then assisted the Seed in distributing the gift baskets, not only to the patients but to any kids who were in the halls and waiting rooms.
Georgina Panahi, Marketing Manager for El Paso Children’s Hospital at UMC, told the media that the recently opened division of the hospital is a community bourne hospital and they depend on the El Paso community, businesses and groups to make it a better place. “We want the patients to thrive. If we can get some kind of a smile, it makes their stay less painful. We’re grateful for any and all involvement from the community. We encourage any non-profit groups or businesses to become involved and donate to our patients.”
When asked to describe her thoughts about how they were recieved by the patients after they delivered the toys and prayed over them (Seed of Abraham is a Christian ministry), Pastor Carol simply said, “When you bring joy to a child, there are simply no words to describe the way we feel.”
Category Featured |
Story and photos by: Ricky Jimenez Carrasco
When people see a homeless man on the street corner with a “Vietnam Veteran” or other sign, they have various reactions. Some dismiss them as part of the scenery, turn up the radio and roll up the window. Some give a dollar or whatever change they have on themselves. Others, though, see a brother, someone who has gone through the same ordeals as they have, ordeals brought by war, service that most of us are only too lucky not to know.
President Hi-Tower and his men from Rough Riders MC see brothers and sisters in these veterans because he and the rest of his club are veterans themselves. ” We have 12 members, all veterans or current active duty from every branch of the armed services, Army, Air Force, Marines, etc.” The Rough Riders are part of a larger organization, having 23 chapters around the world from Korea to Germany to the Persian Gulf. “We are a traditional M/C with traditional M/C values. Our goal is to do our best to provide help to needy people, specifically veterans. We have a couple runs a year. The funds we raise we use to help various organizations. Last Thanksgiving, we donated $4000 in turkeys to the Battered Women’s Shelter, the Rescue Mission, the Salvation Army and the Ambrosio Guillen Veteran’s home in the northeast.”
One of Hi-Tower’s favorite memories is of Mr. Finley at the Guillen Vet’s home. “Mr. Finley was a helluva guy. He lost both legs and he was one of the first residents of the home. He wasn’t from here and he had no family here as they lived out of town. WE were his family. He passed away last year.” Hi-Tower, himself a 26 year veteran and a retired Command Sgt. Major, practically beams when talking about his club’s involvement with veterans like Mr. Finley. He recounts how the Rough Riders built a fountain and an Alzheimer’s garden for the home. My favorite project that he told me about was a pellet gun shooting range that they installed in the home to entertain the veterans.
Rough Riders would like to invite all the EP area bikers to their “Biker Night” at the Comic Strip on June 3rd. All funds continue the Rider’s work with veterans and the community. Hi-Tower would further like to express his gratitude with the local businesses that supported this run, including Barnett HD, Viva PowerSports, Landry’s, the Holiday Inn (where the run ended and the bikers took over the central garden and the parking lot for the biker rodeo) and too many more to mention here.
Category Lifestyles |
