Memorial Run part of weekend on wheels
By Cindy VotrubaArticle Photos
MINNEOTA - Before more than 200 motorcyclists took to the open road Saturday afternoon in Minneota, they remembered those who recently died in traffic crashes, including Andy Wiersma last month, and the four children from the Lakeview School bus crash in February.
The seventh annual Minneota Memorial Run on Saturday pays tribute to those killed in traffic crashes and to raise safety awareness.
Proceeds from the event will go toward Reflections, the local National Guard family readiness group.
Charmaine Petersen of Canby said the only types of motorcycle runs her family does are ones that help other people.
This was Petersen's third Minneota Memorial Run.
"We usually go on runs that benefit others, we only do these kinds," Petersen said.
Petersen said she and her family ride for such benefits as the Children's Miracle Network. She had helped organized the first motorcycle run for autism last weekend, Aug. 17 in Canby. There were 30 bikes there, she said.
"It takes a lot of organizing," Petersen said.
Petersen's son, Shane Scheler, and his wife, Patty, also of Canby, said they just enjoy the ride and like that it's for a good cause.
Shane Scheler said the ride also is a family affair for him.
"I get together with my family, parents, aunts and uncles," Shane Scheler said.
Shane Scheler said he likes seeing all the different motorcycles lining the streets. Patty Scheler said it's the people who make the event fun.
"You meet people from different places who have been everywhere," Patty Scheler said.
Shane Scheler also said it was perfect weather for a run.
"The wind's not blowing," Shane Scheler said.
Sheila Bretschneider, one of the event's organizers, said the memorial run draws hundreds of riders.
"Last year, we had 259 (riders)," Bretschneider said.
And they come from all over, Bretschneider said.
"We've had people from Litchfield, we've had people from Sioux Falls," Bretschneider said. "I had a lady call from Tea, S.D."
Some riders came from as far away as New Auburn, Iowa, or Fargo, N.D. Others came from closer to home. Matt Coequyt of Minnesota said he's riding for the memory of the guys who have fallen.
"And to be with everybody, get out and enjoy the weather," Coequyt said.
Glenn Verschelde of Mankato and formerly of Minneota, said it's a hometown ride and his two brothers ride it.
"And I knew Brick, the reason we started this," Verschelde said.
Joe Kruk of Marshall said he's in the run basically to support the riders.
"It's something to do," Kruk said.
Randy and Mary DeVos of St. Leo just bought their motorcycle not too long ago. Mary said this is their first ride.
"We heard about it (the memorial run) from friends in Minneota," Mary DeVos said. "It's a beautiful day for a ride."
