Bikers bring cheer along for the ride

[totalmotorcycle]

Bikers bring cheer along for the ride
Monday, December 11, 2006 - By SAM EGGLESTON, Journal Ishpeming Bureau - The Mining Journal - miningjournal.net




ISHPEMING — Carrying a stuffed animal into the Mining Journal offices on Division Street and setting it under the lit Christmas tree isn’t the image most people have in their heads when the word “biker” is brought up.


The Highland Clan Motorcycle Club doesn’t mind. They’re too busy raising money to help purchase gifts for several charities, including the Mining Journal Cheer Club, Toys for Tots, Negaunee School District’s Lakeview Elementary Giving Tree and St. Vincent DePaul Society.

“This is something we’re excited to be a part of every year,” said Pete Heikkla, one of the Clan’s members. “It’s all volunteer on our part. From the prize and donation canvassing to purchasing the toys and delivering them. We’re just happy to help out.”

This year marked the ninth season the group has raised funds to help give to the Toys for Tots campaign and the fifth year they have contributed to the Giving Tree. The group also donated several toys to the Cheer Club again this year and donated to St. Vincent DePaul’s in Negaunee this year.

The fund-raising begins in August with events like the Crossroads Bike Night and an event held at Pasquallis in Negaunee.

Heikkla said donations come in annually from groups like the Marquette County Steelworkers’ Coalition and their friends and fellow bikers.

“The list goes on and on,” he said. “From Russo’s to Jubilee Foods, everyone in the community does an awesome job of supporting this event. We couldn’t do it without everyone who contributed.”

The Highland Clan also continued a recent tradition it has participated in over the past five years: adopting a family in need.

“This year, we helped out a family that lost a loved one here in the hunting season,” Heikkla said.

“Every year this gets bigger and bigger and the support is always there. We appreciate everyone who finds it in their heart to give even a little. We know it’s getting harder and harder with the way fuel and everything keeps getting more and more expensive. Yet, people still find it in their hearts to donate to this event.”

Cheer Club donations can be dropped off at any of the following locations: Mining Journal offices at 249 W. Washington St. in Marquette, 118 E. Division St. in Ishpeming and 411 Elm Ave. Room 109, Munising; Marquette Township offices at 161 County Road 492 in Marquette; Ace Hardware Store, 193 E. M-35 in Gwinn; and Wells Fargo Bank at U.S. 41 and Baldwin Avenue in Negaunee. Items also can be dropped off at the Marquette Salvation Army at 1009 W. Baraga Ave. or the Ishpeming Salvation Army at 222 E. Division St.

For more information on the Christmas Cheer Club, contact the Salvation Army office in Marquette at 228-2930 or in Ishpeming at 486-8121.