ABATE to have Freedom Run

Mike Maune - Intern Writer

American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) will sponsor their annual Freedom Run on June 24 for charity. The motorcycle gathering will begin at the Versailles Town Square and end at the Circle Z Ranch on Friendship Road. A hog roast, bike show, live band, car show, and bike sports competition will conclude the event. All the proceeds will be donated to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis to benefit muscular dystrophy patients. “You won’t find bigger hearted people than motorcycle people,” Gene Swing said, spokesman for the event.

ABATE is teaming up with the American Legion Post #173 in Versailles to make the event even better this year. The Legion’s annual car show will be held in conjunction with the Freedom Run, preceding the ride. The joining of the two organizations happened after a successful Freedom Run last year. “[The Legion] said, ‘We like the way you do things.’ So we decided to do it together,” Swing said.

An estimated 200 bikes will leave at 1:00 p.m. from the town square to go to Friendship and then to Bonaparte’s Retreat in Napoleon. They will then head over to Lefty’s Pub in Batesville. As they arrive at their final stop at the Circle Z Ranch, after nearly 100 miles of riding, they’ll be greeted by the smells of the pig donated and cooked by the ranch owners, the Zieglers. Later, the two local bands Hoosier Daddy and One Brick Shy will play to an estimated 200-300 people, some coming from as far away as Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

The Bike Show registration is from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The ride registration is from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The cost of admission for ABATE members is $15 per person or $25 per couple. For nonmembers, it’s $18 per person or $30 per couple. The price includes the ride, food, music, camping, the bike show, and the field events. For the first 200 people, a t-shirt commemorating the event will be included. The party at the Circle Z Ranch begins at 5:00 p.m. No one under the age of 21 will be allowed after 7:00 p.m.

ABATE is a nonprofit organization that works as an advocate for bikers and biking safety. Many of their members teach biking safety courses for the state of Indiana. They also lobby for bike legislation.

For more information, contact the ABATE Regional Representative Bob Alexander at 812-852-2153 or Gene Swing at 312-689-3302.