Ride through two counties
to benefit Habitat chapter
By clare Marie celano
Staff Writer
James Wishbow of Millstone Township has been riding a motorcycle for more than 20 years.
Once a year he gets together with his "biker buddies" to ride for more than just fun. They ride their motorcycles to help the Freehold Area Habitat for Humanity help others.
Coined the "Freehold Area Habitat for Humanity Motorcycle Ride for Affordable Housing," the 90- minute fund-raiser ride on Oct. 13 will travel through Monmouth and Ocean counties and end at the Colts Neck Reformed Church, Route 537, according to Wishbow.
In addition to chairing this annual function, Wishbow was the brains behind the event with his friend Tom Ross of Wall Township. Ross is the vice chairman of the ride.
Ross, who said he loves riding his motorcycle and has been doing it for more than 20 years, is looking forward to the ride and called Habitat a "great organization." He’s helped to chair the event since the first ride.
"This event gives me a chance to give something back to the community," he said. "It’s such a worthwhile organization."
The charity ride, now in its third year, raises funds for Habitat for Humanity, an organization that rehabilitates and constructs homes for working people who might not otherwise be able to purchase a home.
In addition to other criteria, applicants for the Habitat homes must promise a certain amount of "sweat equity" by helping with the actual construction of the home they are purchasing.
Wishbow has been involved with the organization for years and has served as a Habitat for Humanity trustee.
"I’d seen other charity rides and they all seemed to work so well," he remarked, explaining his reasoning for coming up with the idea in the first place. "The vast majority of bikers are very community oriented individuals and are very willing to give of their time for a charitable event."
What started out as just an idea is now something Wishbow hopes will continue to grow larger every year. He said the first ride for Habitat attracted 45 riders. Last year, 88 riders lined up to ride for charity. Pre-registration for the Oct. 13 event has already surpassed last year’s final tally, he reported.
"We raised $6,000 the first year and $10,000 last year," Wishbow said.
This year. with an anticipated 200 riders, he’s hoping the ride will raise close to $20,000 for Habitat.
Participants will be registering and checking in between 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Freehold Savings and Loan, West Main Street. The ride will begin at 12:30 p.m. from that location.
In addition to Freehold Savings and Loan, other sponsors for the ride include Freehold Honda-Triumph-Ducati, Northeastern Supply in Jamesburg and Clarksburg, Mr. Cycle Parts in Freehold, Harley-Davidson of Long Branch and Harley-Davidson of Ocean County.
In past years, Wishbow said, riders were given complete cooperation from the police departments of the towns they rode through.
This year is no different. In fact, Wishbow said, this year the ride will be a fully police escorted ride.
Two police bikers from the Freehold Township PBA, along with two police cruisers from the New Jersey State Police will accompany riders for the duration of the event.
In addition, police in Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Jackson, Colts Neck and Howell will be helping out by directing and monitoring traffic at intersections in their respective towns. Many officers will also be riding in the event themselves.
The fee to sign up is $25 for a driver and $15 for a passenger, according to Wishbow.
All participants will receive a commemorative ride pin. In addition, Wishbow said those who raise $50 or more in sponsorship dollars will receive a T-shirt.
Those who raise $100 or more will take home a Habitat for Humanity sweatshirt and riders who have received $500 or more in sponsorship dollars will take home a custom event denim jacket, complete with Habitat logo and embroidered motorcycle. Wishbow said nine drivers earned the jacket last year.
This year he’s hoping even more riders will take them home.
For more information, call Tom Ross, (732) 528-5991, or James Wishbow, (609) 259-6459.