FISHER HOUSE - HELPING MILITARY FAMILIES

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The smell of leathers and the sounds of motorcycles will fill the air Saturday as riders take part in the fifth-annual Freedom Ride for Fisher House.

"The Fisher House is like a Ronald McDonald House except that it's for the families of veterans," said Billy Hecht, a member of the Fisher House committee of the Mount Joy American Legion Riders.

"Families stay at the houses at no cost," he said.

There are 45 Fisher Houses nationwide. They are situated near Veterans Administration medical facilities from Alaska to Florida.

There is also a Fisher House at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England.

The annual ride has been part of the local group's fundraiser since Fred Gerfin, the group's current president, started it in 2009.

"Twenty-nine states are involved in this year's national Fisher House ride," Gerfin said.

Dave Splain, a member of the committee that plans and executes the event, said the first ride only had 18 participants, which was manageable by one person.

"Last year, we had about 97 riders and we needed a committee to manage the event," Splain said.

Splain said the Legion riders chose to support Fisher House because the charity has a 4-star rating, with 96.6 percent of donations going directly toward running the individual Fisher Houses across the country.

The Mount Joy group has donated money specifically to the Fisher House in Richmond, Va., to help with construction of an outdoor living area, and to the construction of the newly opened Fisher House in Pittsburgh.

Money not directly earmarked or needed for any specific project will be donated directly to the Fisher House general fund.

Over the years, Gerfin said, the Mount Joy Legion Riders have donated more than $20,000 to Fisher House.

This year's event will start at the Mount Joy American Legion, and riders will travel to Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery for a brief ceremony.

"Cathy 'Gypsy' Hopper, the National Freedom Ride founder, will be the guest speaker at the memorial service," Hecht said.

Cost to participate in the ride is $10. Registration will begin at the Mount Joy American Legion, 255 W. Main St., at 10:30 a.m.

Preregistration is not required and motorcycles of all makes and models are welcome, as well as street rods.

"This is a public event," Splain said.

The ride starts at noon and takes a 65-mile leisurely, escorted route through Central Pennsylvania.

The entire ride is expected to last about three hours before ending at the Elizabethtown American Legion, 240 N. Hanover St.

From there, the mood shifts to a party atmosphere, with the live classic rock band HYT, food, drinks, door prizes and a Chinese auction.

Those who do not want to participate in the ride are still welcome attend the after-ride festivities for a donation of $10.

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