Annual ECL Choppers for Charity revved up for ride roaring along city streets
In an unlikely scene, motorcycle riders arrived at the Alberta Children’s Hospital with teddy bears for the annual ECL Choppers for Charity ride Saturday.
More than 50 riders and their passengers roared down Calgary’s streets before presenting a $155,000 cheque at the hospital for the Rotary Flames House, Alberta’s first pediatric hospice that provides children with serious illnesses palliative or respite care.
“It’s just amazing that all of the people, who you would really not expect, are making such an impact on the house and children,” said Jacci Tainsh, Rotary Flames ambassador.
Tainsh’s son, Brady, received respite care at the facility for twoand-a-half years and end-of-life care for three months before losing his battle with Batten’s Disease in January 2016 at age seven.
“In life, your job is to watch your children grow, and if you can’t do that then your job is to make them as comfortable as possible. I couldn’t do that because I didn’t have the equipment or medication, and they did,” said Tainsh.
She was offered end-of-life care at the hospital but declined — knowing there would be no better facility than the Rotary Flames House.
“It wasn’t even a question. The Rotary Flames House is the best environment to spend your last days,” she said.
“The fact that they were able to let my son pass peacefully is all any parent can ask for when you’re put in that sort of situation.”
Tainsh spoke at the event Saturday to share her story and spread awareness of the work done by the Rotary Flames House.
ECL Choppers for Charity was founded in 1997 by Tom Fredericks, who used to own the ECL Group of Companies.
Bikers took to the streets each year until 2010 when the charity was retired and Fredericks sold the company.
But four years later, the charity was revived after some involved learned the hospital was in desperate need of respite care funding. The group has raised more than $2.5 million for the Alberta Children’s Hospital since its inception.