New Jersey Bikers ‘Shine’ with Special Needs Kids
Horseneck Motorcycle Riding Club shares mutual admiration of bikes with young enthusiasts at recent meet-up.
A New Jersey bike group has shown once again that they are “shining stars” of their community. The Horseneck Motorcycle Riding Club spent a recent Saturday morning with some boys and girls of the Shining Stars program to share their common interest in bikes.
For the second year in a row, more than a dozen Shining Stars members and about a dozen bikers, plus volunteers and Livingston Township Council members met at Monmouth Court Community Center in Livingston, New Jersey, to talk with the kids and show them their bikes. Patch photos from the event prove how enjoyable it was for both the bikers and the kids.
Shining Stars is a program for individuals with special needs. Volunteers “shadow” the individual to help him or her participate more comfortably in social activities. The program’s popular Shining Stars Sports League offers the members an opportunity to improve their motor skills, plus enjoy seasonal sports such as soccer, volleyball, and basketball. The recent biker meet-up kicked off the program’s Fall season.
“We’re trying to think out of the box a little bit when it comes to recreational activities for individuals with special needs,” adaptive recreation coordinator Jennifer Quirk told the West Essex Tribune. “I’m trying to think of things that their typical peers or siblings would do and modify them.”
The Horseneck Motorcycle Riding Club is dedicated to a safe riding community, charity, and camaraderie. Based in Livingston, New Jersey, the group has 51 members. The bike group offers rides, barbecues, overnights, and shows. Plus, the club is also big on giving back to their community.
“We all look forward to again letting the kids play and learn about the bikes,” Horseneck Motorcycle Riding Club president Ira Sessler told the West Essex Tribune.
For the bikers, there was a breakfast before the Shining Stars meet-up and a ride afterwards. But for the kids, we’re guessing this was a memory they’ll treasure for years to come. Awesome job, guys!
Photos: Patch
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