Riding for You

Originally Published in Southeastern Rider Magazine, September 2018


When riding and writing has a purpose and a face.



Sometimes I realize that in the motorcycle community, the only thing we truly share is the passion to
Peter Amaral’s buddy Austin sent him these gifts.
 Austin calls him “Scooby” because Peter always
takes snacks with him on rides.

 ride on two wheels. Save that, riding is as individual as the vast number of bikes, and the options to make them as different as every rider. A major choice is to ride alone or with someone else, whether that means with an empty pillion or just one bike and one road. But there is another option, taking a passenger along electronically. In December of 2016, a Facebook Page was created that allows those who would like to ride alone, still share the experience and get a reward in return.

“Riding for You” brings together riders like you and me with those who may never ride because they can’t. Creators Reb Harbin, David and Merlie Hayslett Jackson use the page to pair up motorcycle riders with buddies. A “Riding for You” Buddy is a special needs person who has an interest in riding, but it is not physically possible for them to do so. They will never feel the breeze on their knees, but with words and images published on Facebook their eyes can have the experience of freedom.

It was motorcycling that brought Reb and Merlie together. Merlie’s daughter Jessie is a buddy and a special needs child. Merlie is not one to keep Jessie from experiencing the world. In fact, visiting a local bike dealer was such a routine, that the dealership “adopted” Jessie.
Reb has been riding since he was eight years old, so it wasn’t unusual to find him in a place that sells motorcycles. Merlie and Reb hit it off, and it wasn’t long before Reb found himself “adopting” Jessie and sharing his rides with her.
Jessie didn’t show any signs of her disability until she was five years old. The discovery didn’t slow her mom down, as they became part of a group called “Irun4U”. The group pairs a runner with a buddy, and the runner provides insight into the training and racing. Adapting that idea to motorcycles seemed like an easy jump for Reb, David and Merlie. “The biker community is one of the most giving groups that is out there,” Reb says.

It didn’t take long for the David’s idea to become a Facebook Page. Reb’s first post was in December of 2016, and in less than two years, it has grown to nearly 2000 members. It’s not just limited to North Carolina, where Reb, Merlie and Jessie live, or the United States, as there is a Rider-Buddy combination in Australia. Both Merlie and Reb have been overwhelmed by the interest from motorcycles as well the special needs community. Balance has been the problem, trying to have buddies for riders, and vice versa has been challenge, so some have been on a waiting list.

Rider George rode from New Jersey to Wisconsin to
celebrate his buddy, Devyn’s Birthday with him.
Being a part of “Riding for You” is as easy as throwing your leg over the saddle, and putting your thumb on the starter. You just need to join the page, and when you are ready for a buddy, make a request to Merlie, she does all the pairing. Reb is the page administrator, and primary recruiter for bikers. Don’t worry about just hanging out, others do, and in fact, there are riders that post on the page that don’t have a special needs buddy. It also not just kids like Jessie, some bikers have buddies that are near their age.

Just like the bond you can form between you and the person in the seat behind you, or the one on the bike behind you, connections made through “Riding for You” can be strong ones. Like any
relationship, how it develops depends on those involved. While Reb and Jessie try to partner a biker with a buddy that is in the same state, it doesn’t always work out that way. They say it’s important to get an introduction made as soon as the partnership is made. For the caretakers, not being familiar with the community of biker can create apprehension. Holding back can go both ways, as many riders are not familiar with people with special needs. Time, conversation and experience all have a way of breaking down barriers, and some of the combos have gotten together for birthdays, graduations and other special events.

Often times, the rider visit is a trip to their buddy’s hospital. Living in and out of a hospital is a reality for the buddies, and can serve as a reminder of the fragility of life, Merlie says.
One rider hoped on his bike and rode twelve hundred miles to meet his buddy. All within hours of being connected.

There are others that haven’t met, and may never meet face to face.

Speaking of meeting, Reb and Merlie hosted a Meet and Greet Event to bring the bikers and buddies together in a group setting. While recanting the day, Reb mentioned, “Even though some (of the buddies) can’t speak, or ride on a motorcycle, a buddy can make it known they don’t want to leave the saddle.” The bike doesn’t even have to be rolling for them to get a thrill.

Even though many of the buddies can’t walk or talk, many are wheelchair bound, there are some that have been able to meet up with their buddies and even got to go for a ride with them. The story is complete with pictures and video on the page.

Reb also says there is a benefit for all riders in the form of awareness. Many of the parents and guardians of the buddies have said they count motorcycles while out driving.
In the end, for the rider, all it takes is a little bit of time and effort at the end of a ride to post a message to buddy. Pictures and video work, too, as it doesn’t take much to convey the freedom of the ride. Merlie sums it up the best, “The page shows the power of just giving your time.”


Rodney Myers is Rider, a Writer, and Video Storyteller. He started riding around age 5. He made up stories before he knew how to write, and was fortunate enough to attend a high school that had a television station.
To read more of my motorcycle stories, you can check out my Motorcycle Blog at:
www.Blogspot.RodneysMCBlog.com

For more information:
“Riding for You” Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/groups/1788437148086543 or just search Riding for You on Facebook

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