Bikers send a message
SATURDAY RALLY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE
They may look rough and tough on the outside, but inside they possess hearts of gold. The Lethbridge Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse is dedicating a special motorcycle ride on Saturday to little nine-month-old Austin Lucas Wright, whose life was tragically taken one year ago.
On April 28, 2016, Lethbridge EMS were called to a home in the 600 block of 17 Street North after receiving a report that a baby boy was in medical distress. The baby was not breathing and in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived, and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy revealed the baby boy died of blunt force trauma not consistent with a fall. Tyler Brian Hogan, a former boyfriend of the baby’s mother, is charged with second-degree murder in the baby’s death.
Police allege the baby's mother had left her boyfriend to care for the baby while she was at work. The child began crying and was assaulted, sustaining extensive, lifethreatening injuries.
Police reported Hogan, who is not the baby’s biological father, initially said the baby had just stopped breathing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin in Lethbridge court today.
B.A.C.A. is an international non-profit organization founded in Utah in 1995. In Alberta, they have chapters in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton.
The local chapter was founded by Deborah aka “Cowgirl,” who is the Lethbridge B.A.C.A. president.
Family and friends of baby Austin approached B.A.C.A. about a month ago, asking if they would be willing to help bring awareness to the public. While B.A.C.A. is hosting the ride, any bikers from any organization are welcome to take part.
“Baby Austin’s family are bikers, so they want their friends and family to be able to ride as well, so we decided to make it open,” said Cowgirl. “That way we can spread the word and the awareness a lot faster to more people, and hopefully we can grow to a point where we’re doing more good than we already are.”
Bikers will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at the north end of Henderson Lake. The family will say a prayer for baby Austin at 1 p.m., followed by the B.A.C.A. mission statement. At 1:30 p.m., it will be “kickstands up” and the group will ride to Fort Macleod, then return to Lethbridge.
A police escort will accompany the group out of Lethbridge, and Fort Macleod RCMP have also been notified.
BACA’s mission is to create a safer environment for children who have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused. The message they want to send loud and clear is that child abuse is never okay, and they stand beside victims to support them and shield them from further abuse.
“Our mission is strictly to empower abused children to not be afraid of the world in which they live,” said Cowgirl. “We go into court with kids. We stand with them while they testify, so that they know they’ve got support.”
Each child brought into the B.A.C.A. family is assigned two support members who they can spend time with and talk to anytime they feel afraid.
B.A.C.A. bikers are cleared for participation through an extensive background check, one year of riding with the Chapter, and after receiving instruction from a licensed mentalhealth professional.
B.A.C.A works with different agencies throughout the city like Lethbridge Police Services and Lethbridge Family Services. If counselling is needed, they work with families to arrange it. Some chapters even help set up activities such as kickboxing.
“We set kids up with things that will help them on their journey to being stronger ... to find a strength within themselves that’s going to help them heal,” said Cowgirl.
After a trial is over, B.A.C.A. hopes the children will be strong enough to stand on their own two feet. They begin to play a lesser role in the child’s life, however, the B.A.C.A. phones are always open to them.
Cowgirl said they sometimes hear from children upon their graduation or once they have children of their own, thanking B.A.C.A. for helping them through a difficult time in their lives.
Anyone who wants to take part in the motorcycle ride is invited to just show up on Saturday.
“This is about the kids. It’s not about us. It’s not about where people’s status is. It’s about the kids,” said Cowgirl. “The more people we have to open people’s eyes to the severity of this, the better.”