Gray Riders to host E-PAL fundraiser

The Gray Riders Association will be hosting its fifth annual Dice Run on Aug. 12.

As with the past three years, the Dice Run aims to raise funds for the Eastlake Police Activities League.

The event is the largest fundraiser E-PAL has for the year, said E-PAL Director and Eastlake Councilman at large Kim Evers.

“This money helps us get through the year,” Evers said.

“The money goes to support not only E-PAL, but the community, because it keeps the center open for the community. The building is also used for voting, blood drives, and as a disaster area building for Lake County.”

Last year, the event raised about $20,000, Evers said. This year’s goal is between $30,000 and $35,000, he added.

The goal of E-PAL, according to an event flyer, “is to give the kids of Willoughby-Eastlake School District a safe place to hang out with their friends, while also being able to teach them leadership skills.”

The events kicks off with breakfast and registration at 9 a.m. at the E-PAL Center, 600 E. 349th St. The first bikes will head out to start the run at noon, with the last bike returning at 5 p.m.

The event, to be held rain or shine, will include Chinese auctions, the opportunity to win a wheelbarrel full of spirits and a charity bike raffle for a 2017 Harley Davidson 883 Iron from Western Reserve Harley Davidson or $4,000 cash.

Bike raffle tickets are $10 per ticket.

According to Evers, 2,000 bike raffle tickets need to be sold.

The cost to participate in the dice run is $15 per bike or car and $5 for each additional passenger.

There will be additional prizes, such as $400 for the highest dice roll and $200 for the lowest roll.

Live music to be provided by Ted Riser and DJ.

The Gray Riders are seeking donation items for the Chinese auction and are hoping to top last year’s donation values of about $13,000.

Some of the donated items for the Chinese auction this year includes baskets from the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, Goodtime III and Western Reserve Harley Davidson, along with donations from many other Mentor, Willoughby and Wickliffe small businesses.

Businesses interested in providing items for the Chinese auction can contact LuAnn Rahaly at 440655-8116.

New this year for the event are run shirts available for purchase at $8 a shirt. Shirts are limited to 200 available.

“Without the Gray Riders and this fundraiser, I don’t know where we would be,” Evers said.

“We changed the name on our game room to the Gray Riders Game Room for all they have done for us.”

For ticket information contact Evers at E-PAL; George Hoyt, president of Gray Riders at 440-6559274; or “Irish” at 585-3609842.