ERMA — A bunch of bikers will be taking a ride on their motorcycles this week hoping to run down a disease that has touched one of their own.
The Cheezy Riders will hold their second annual Motorcycle Ride and Family Fun Fair benefit on Sept. 21 with all proceeds going to the Stennis Foundation, which strives to raise awareness, fund research and find a cure for Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).
Warren Alexander II, the Head Cheeze of the Cheezy Riders, was devastated six years ago when he learned his 2-year-old son, Warren III (a.k.a. Birdman), was afflicted with MLD.
Birdman just celebrated his eighth birthday.
MLD is a genetic disease that affects the central nervous system. There is no cure for the disease, but scientists continue to research potential treatments and that’s where the Cheezy Riders come in.
Alexander told the Herald the Cheezy Riders started out a few years ago as a joke with a couple of friends who rode bikes and liked to have fun.
“We said we were the Cheeziest bikers around,” he said.
“Then a couple years ago we figured we were riding anyway, so why not try to do some good at the same time,” Alexander continued. “So we hooked up with the Stennis Foundation and its founder Trish Knight said they’d love the help.”
Since then, the Cheezy Riders have grown to over a dozen members and even more associate members and they’re looking forward to even more people attending their event this year after last year’s success.
“It started out with just three of us,” said Joe Volpe, Alexander’s best friend who also goes by Nacho Cheeze. “Warren and I grew up together and more people have joined the Cheezy Riders through the cigar shop (Sea Gars in Stone Harbor).”
Sea Gars owner Rob Pancoast is known as Smoke Cheeze.
Alexander said they’ve also picked up members from different events and even through online interest from complete strangers.
Everyone who hears their story seems to want to be a part of the group.
“We are a bunch of goofy guys who are riding to make a difference,” the Cheezy Rider’s MySpace page reads. “We have a great time everywhere we go. We don’t take life or anything for that matter seriously, we just want to enjoy everyday, life’s to short not to.”
“We’re trying to make this year’s fun for the bikers and for the whole family,” Alexander said. “Everyone’s welcome, so bring the kids.”
Motorcycle registration will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Harley Davidson store in Wildwood on Sept. 21. The bikes will then ride to the Erma Moose Lodge where all the festivities will begin at noon.
The price is $20 per bike with $5 admission at the Moose Lodge or $10 for general admission for those who don’t ride. All food and drinks are provided with the price of admission.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/cheezyriders.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
Villas – Sneakers or Tennis shoes…what do you call them? In Virginia, we sometimes say Tennipumps.
