Share the Wind driven by lots of smiles
Wharf Rat Rally initiative growing
Roy LeBlanc arrived in Yarmouth on Aug. 31 to surprise his dad, 99-year-old Alcide LeBlanc.
And while the dad was surprised to see the son, it was the son who got the bigger surprise.
He got there in time to watch his dad – a Second World War veteran who turns 100 next year – put on a helmet and go for a spin in a side car of a motorcycle with Wharf Rat Rally volunteer driver Guy LeBlanc.
It was the 99-year-old’s first motorcycle ride.
“It was a little rough at times,” he said, about the bumps they rode over as they circled driveway around Maple Grove Education Centre in Hebron, Yarmouth County, a few times.
But, the veteran said, it was also fun.
The rides that he and others got that day – and that many more had been getting in other parts of western Nova Scotia – were part of the Share the Wind initiative of the Wharf Rat Rally.
Many years ago riders taking part in the rally had circle a hospital and seniors care facilities, honking their horns as they passed by. While that was a delight for the residents and patients, others longed to be closer to the action.
According to the Wharf Rat Rally website, in 2013 the rally started making some official stops and meet and greets at some long-term care facilities. Kevin Bean’re (around Wharf Rat Rally he’s just called Bean’re) was more than happy to accommodate. Bean’re, the official ambassador of the Wharf Rat Rally, loved the idea of giving others a motorcycle experience – including those who couldn’t get to the Digby for the rally.
Each year a couple more longterm care facilities were added to the stops and in 2017 Bean’re came up with an idea and turned that idea into Share the Wind.
According to the Wharf Rat Rally website, “Bean’re purchased a Honda Valkyrie with a Champion Escort Sidecar and brought the unit to Digby. Insurances in place, and waivers signed, Bean’re’s visits now included rides in the sidecar for residents, staff and family members. The project literally brought tears to people’s eyes. Alzheimer patients who hadn’t spoken or smiled for months were brought out of their shells, even if for short periods of time. Staff members heard stories days later of how much residents enjoyed their short outings.”
During this year’s Wharf Rat Rally, the Share the Wind initiative had its greatest outreach ever. Stops to long-term care facilities and nursing homes included facilities in Windsor, Bridgetown,
Annapolis, Middleton, Digby, Meteghan and Yarmouth.
Bean’re made the announcement in 2019 that he was donating his sidecar to the Wharf Rat Rally so it can be in Nova Scotia yearround and able to be used to give more people rides, according to the Wharf Rat Rally website.
“With the help of a grant from Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Wharf Rat Rally was able to purchase Bean’re’s Valkyrie as well as a second complete unit,” the event’s website states.
Bean’re gets help from volunteers to help take people on rides.
Posted volunteer driver Christian Thibaudeau on Facebook after a trip to the Heart of the Valley in Middleton, “Lots of smiles, lots of good stories and a few wet eyes made the day one not to be forgotten for many. We had volunteers for Nevada, NB and NS today for a total of 11 riders. Youngest participant at heart was 98 and fit as a fiddle.”
Sometimes it’s hard to judge who has the biggest smiles, Bean’re and his volunteer drivers, or those getting the rides.
It wasn’t hard to judge the smile on Beatrice Cottreau’s face on Aug. 31 when it was her turn to take a ride after the observing the Darren Williams Memorial Ride and ceremony at the Afghanistan memorial at Maple Grove. The 94-year-old Wedgeport Legion member joked that riding a motorcycle had always been on her bucket list. Well, at least it was on this day.
“I’m 94. If I don’t do it now, I might never do it,” she said laughing, before playfully putting her hands together and saying a little prayer.
She left with a big smile as her ride got underway. And that big smile was still there when she arrived back from her ride. Correction.
Her smile was even wider than before.