Helping fight breast cancer

Paul Brown is revved up about an upcoming Blue Knights motorcycle ride, which will benefit the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade.

The organization plans to ride this Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., in support of the fight against breast cancer. The inaugural ride, which they hope to develop into an annual event, will include members of the New Bern-Craven County Blue Knights and about 200 other riders.

The route will be from Lawson Creek Park in New Bern to PCS Phosphate in Aurora, to Lowland in Pamlico County and back to New Bern to the Harley-Davidson dealership on U.S. 70.

The Blue Knights is a non-profit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles.

Pre-registration with payment continues until Wednesday. On-site registration at Lawson Creek begins at 9 Saturday morning.

Pre-registration is $15 per rider and on the day of the ride, the cost is $20. Passengers pay $5.

The Blue Knights in New Bern were formed in 1991.

“It was the first chapter in North Carolina. It is an international organization,” Brown said.

He said the club is active in charitable causes. Two of the organizations the Blue Knights assist are Cystic Fibrosis, and Cops and Kids.

The club recently rode to Onslow County to participate in a fund-raising ride for a girl with leukemia.

Brown’s wife, Robin, is also helping in the event. She has donated a handmade quilt which depicts a large breast cancer ribbon with smaller pink ones on the border, while the other side of the quilt has designs of the 2009 Harley-Davidsons. The quilt will be raffled off.

Brown said registered participants will have a cookout after the ride, enjoy two bands, and there will be jewelry for sale which benefits the fundraiser.

He said stylists from Girlfriend Salons would be at the dealership to provide haircuts to the public with the proceeds going to the breast cancer crusade.

The first-time event is part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Most of the events are open to the public Saturday afternoon at the dealership where owner Jimmy Allen has donated his building and grounds for the riders and the public.

Brown said the event is open to any motorcyclists, no matter what brand they operate.

Francine Sawyer can be reached at 252-635-5671 or at fsawyer@freedomenc.com.

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Pre-registration, with payment, continues through Wednesday at the Harley-Davidson Dealership on U.S. 70. On-site registration at Lawson Creek begins at 9 Saturday morning.

For more information, call Paul Brown at 252-349-3715 or Ken Hunter at 252-626-1738.

Pre-registration is $15 per rider and on the day of the ride, the cost is $20. Passengers pay $5.

To learn more about the Blue Knights NC 1, go to blueknightsnc.1bravehost.com.