Inaugural Overton CASA Motorcycle Ride To Help Kids

CASA of Overton County is in need of money to serve abused and neglected children in the court system.

Coordinator Susan O’Neil said the need led to creating a charity motorcycle ride on Saturday, partnering with a local motorcycle club. O’Neil said that registering to ride on Saturday helps them pay for advocate recruitment, education materials and travel expenses.

O’Neil said advocates visit their kids twice a month.

“We have one case where the children have been placed in Clarksville, Tennessee,” O’Neil said. “So that’s a three hour drive, one way. So the gas cards for something like that, is a huge benefit.”

O’Neil said all someone has to do is register to ride at the Overton County Fairgrounds between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. She said from there, riders will go to Monterey, Clarkrange and Jamestown to hit the check points.

O’Neil said that when riders return, there will be food, prize giveaways and a silent auction to support kids in the court system.

O’Neil said that an advocate brought the idea of partnering with a motorcycle club to her, and it seemed like a “no brainer.” She said after sitting down and working out the logistics with the Three Degrees Masonic Motorcycle Club, the idea became a reality.

“Motorcycle enthusiasts are very into helping kids of all ages and all circumstances,” O’Neil said. “So in that aspect, it was a no brainer when we reached out to the motorcycle club.”

She said that previously, CASA of Overton County held things like flower sales but simply needed to bring more funding in to provide services. She said that was coupled with having to cancel fundraisers because of COVID.

“We need as many (advocates) as we can get because we have a lot of cases of abuse and neglect of kids that need a CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate,” O’Neil said. “It allows me to recruit them and then it gives me the money to create the materials to train them. Since they are volunteers and not being paid and sometimes they have to travel pretty far to see their kids.”

O’Neil said the motorcycle ride lasts from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. She said all the cooking is going to be done by the Honorable Judge Daryl Colson.