The Ant Hill Mob held its 6th annual charity ride for the Make-A-Wish Foundation on August 14, donating nearly $2,500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
This year’s ride had 57 motorcycles, some with passengers and some without, which was nearly a double from last year’s 30 motorcycles.
“Make-A-Wish is an awesome organization,” Karla Poppy, member of the Ant Hill Mob, said. “They make so many dreams come true for those who thought that they would never get to do those things.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation showed up at Jimmers in Hortonville with Toppers pizzas so those who attended the event or rode in the event could buy some pizzas, with money also going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“Of course we always want more bikes to join,” Poppy said. “The more members that join the club, the more bikes we have, which will give more opportunity to spread the news to the community.”
Make-A-Wish representative Kathie Hacker, said it was fun to participate with the Ant Hill Mob as well as making the foundation present at the event so people had an opportunity to ask questions and learn about the foundation as well as where the money is coming from and where it is going.
“It’s so neat to do the fundraising,” Hacker said. “Without events like these, wishes would not be able to come true for those children through kind and giving hearts like the Ant Hill Mob.”
A lot of work was put into the event, but at the end, it went smoothly and was a success.
After the ride dinner and drinks were served at the Bean City Bar in New London while a D.J. provided music to dance to after dinner.
“It was a great turn out and we received great feedback from the participants that the ride was beautiful and it went off without any problems,” Jill Meyer, member of the Ant Hill Mob, said.
A 50/50 raffle was held as well as well as a silent auction and donated door prizes.
“There are bigger events,” Tammy Weyenberg, Make-A-Wish representative, said. “But events like these are just as important because you can only have so many big events and people look at motorcycle groups and their perceptions are scary, but this is for charity and I want people to see that.”
The Ant Hill Mob, out of Bear Creek, has been involved with charities all over Wisconsin for 35 years in order to benefit the communities and lives of those in the communities.
“That’s why we do what we do,” Tammy Fette, member of the Ant Hill Mob, said. “A bad a** biker group that does it for the kids with the help of kids. It’s like one big family helping out families.”
Members of the Ant Hill Mob always have a few kids helping out with the events. Grace Besaw, Damien Fette, Elana Heise and Haeleygh Miller helped out by selling raffle tickets, serving soda and water, and cleaning up after the event.
“We hope that the community and local area, will begin to realize and to participate in our functions,” Brandy Surprise, member of the Ant Hill Mob, said. “Especially when it goes to such a wonderful organization [like] the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”