Gifts
Dan O'Neill
Founder
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The Headless Horsemen (HH) a Northwest-based band of bikers, rode to benefit Mercy Corps last Saturday, Aug. 28. The 27 riders logged 300 miles through the Puget Sound area of WA. Bill and Melba O'Neill, Mercy Corps supporters in Shelton (and my parents!), hosted a thirst-quenching pit-stop and were presented with an honorary certificate of membership in the HH. The ride raised several thousand dollars (and rising) for children and families in flashpoints of need including Haiti and Pakistan.
Legendary Seattle radio personality Ichabod Caine is the founder of the Headless Horsemen. Photo: Courtesy Ichabod Caine
It was just the latest benefit outing for HH founder, Ichabod Caine, Harley-riding, Seattle rock/country radio personality. And, yes, that is his legal name. "Icky" has been a good friend since the mid 80s and told me back then he would one day own a Harley Davidson motorcycle like mine. Decades later, he bought a fire-engine red Harley from a Seattle fireman and soon launched the HH for the purpose of sharing the passion of motorcycling with folks who ride all kinds of bikes for a number of charities. The first HH fundraiser was the Seattle "Ride for Kids" in 2007.
"The Mercy Corps ride was an opportunity for us to have a global impact," says Marty Conrad, a 911 dispatcher and HH coordinator. "This was a great first annual ride!" Pierce County Police officer, Ken Board, served as the official HH photographer and agrees there will be more rides for more charities in the future, including Mercy Corps.
In 1999 I organized a Harley ride for Kosovo war refugees with the help of Eastside Harley Davidson in Bellevue, WA. In spite of driving rain, 70 riders turned out and helped to make a positive difference in the lives of homeless people half a world away. It has been a long, dry spell for charity riding for me but I am back in the saddle and ready to hit the road at a moment's notice. And now that I am a full member of the HH, more road trips are on the horizon.
Donations can still be made! Click here and weigh in.
It's hard work, this motorcycling business. But someone has to do it!
Twenty-seven Headless Horsemen pose with Bill and Melba O'Neill (donors since 1980) in Shelton, Wash., during the Mercy Corps benefit ride, Aug 28. Photo: Ken Board for Headless Horsemen
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Comments
estelle joan
September 1, 2010 12:38PM
Fabulous blog.....What an exciting way to raise money....I am still counting the change in my giant jar that I have collected for 8 years. I am up to $700 plus...in quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.....They are for your HH MC ride. Good work. Nice Harley that you rode. E
Doug Wead
September 1, 2010 12:46PM
Oh my goodness, Dan, you look so ugly and mean. It would definitely intimidate me and make me want to give my money to mercy corps.
Ken Board
September 1, 2010 3:03PM
Awesome blog entry Dr D. I want to second what Marty said, it was a pleasure to ride for such a worthy cause. It was a beautiful day for a ride, with really neat people. The people who ride with the Headless Horsemen are some of the most compassionate and caring people I am blessed to know. We all laugh and kid each other, but also understand the seriousness of what we are trying to do by raising money for numerous charities, many of which benefit children and the less fortunate. Mercy Corps is now added to our list of Charities and I look forward to riding for Mercy Corps again real soon!!
Ken
Marty Conrad
September 1, 2010 6:57AM
On behalf of the Headless Horsemen, it was our pleasure to ride and support such a great cause! One thing to note, the Headless Horsemen's first right was the 2007 "Puget Sound" Ride for Kids. We will be supporting that ride again this year on September 12th in Carnation. Please consider joining us!
Marty/911 conrad-mw@comcast.net