Local group plans inaugural ride to support local firefighters

Posted on September 22, 2017

Riders from the local chapter of Smoke and Iron pose for a picture in front of the Stone House Saloon in Belle Fourche, South Dakota while the group went to the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. (Photo by Julie Gray)

By Eric Stock

NOMRAL – A local group that’s raising money to support injured firefighters and emergency technicians is holding an inaugural motorcycle run through Central Illinois on Saturday morning.

“Get out of your chair, come and ride with us,” said Tim Gray, treasurer for the local chapter of Smoke and Iron. “It’s going to be a nice easy ride through the Mackinaw River Valley. A lot of these roads, even though people have lived around, I’m sure never ridden on.”

The 90-minute ride starts and ends at Paul Davis Restoration, 608 S. White Oak Road, Normal. It begins at 11:30 a.m. and costs $20 to ride, $10 for a passenger. The fundraiser ends with a lunchm with a cash bar and 50-50 raffles.

Gray said one example of the group’s charity is helping to pay the medical bills before they can receive disability payments.

“It doesn’t go to a nationwide place, that fund is for our local firefighers and their families,” Gray said.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. at Paul Davis Restoration.

The national Smoke and Iron group was formed in Texas in 2006.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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