Waller Bike Ride raises money for Baine family

Photo by Mike Clary

Photo by Mike Clary

Mike Clary took pictures of the 4th of July Waller Bike Ride. Many more can be seen at www.fridayflyer.com.

Mike Clary took pictures of the 4th of July Waller Bike Ride. Many more can be seen at www.fridayflyer.com.

For several years now, the Waller family of Longhorn Dr. has invited Canyon Lakers to start their day on the 4th of July with a bike ride and fundraiser to benefit local families. The 11th annual 4th of July Bike Ride fundraiser was organized by Canyon Lake Little League to benefit the Baine family.

One of the organizers, Ron Almada, says about 200 bicyclists showed up for the ride. Starting at 8:30, many brought a potluck dish to share and started decorating their bikes. There was music and an emcee to promote the cause and sell tickets for the prize drawing.

After the bike ride, which traveled the length of Longhorn Dr. to the Campground and back, most of the riders stopped by the Waller house for more food, music and the drawing of donated gifts, which raised $2,880. After the drawing, a former beneficiary of a Canyon Lake fundraiser, Mark Pulver, got up to speak. Mark was in a serious motorcycle accident more than two years ago and wanted to thank the community for what they and a fundraiser at the Lodge meant to his family.

Last year, the Waller 4th of July Bike Ride fundraiser benefited the family of Sam Siroky, a 15-year-old involved in a fatal bicycling accident on Vacation Dr. just three days earlier on July 1.

This year’s ride was to raise awareness and money for Canyon Lake resident Danny Baine and his family. Danny has Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a chronic, progressive and devastating autoimmune disease of the bile ducts that often leads to liver failure and the need for a transplant.

Danny was diagnosed in 2009 and is currently on a waiting list to receive a new liver. As a result, Danny cannot perform his job as an engineer for Amtrak, which has created a financial burden on the family of five. See more of Danny’s story in an adjacent article.

After this year’s fundraising event, Ron says, “We wanted a bit more so we worked the front gate for three hours and raised around $2,080. As a fundraising team, we’d like to thank the community for these generous gifts to the Baine family.

Following is a list of contributors:

Twist’n U, Jeremy and Anna Thompson, Storm Elite Baseball, Mark and KarenTerry, The Friday Flyer, Staples, Lake Elsinore by Costco, Canyon Lake Little League, Jeff and Reanee Smith, Stat Digital, Mike and Sarah Pa, LA Fitness, California Skier, Casey Lytle, Mike Kellar, H20 Sports, Mike and Lori Hinkley, UTV Junkies, Prestige Golf Cars, Johnny’s Auto Detailing, Bombshells Boutique, Novins Electric and Handyman Services, My Choice, The Sport Stop, Studio K Tanning, Canyon Lake Cleaners, Canyon Lake Hair Productions, Joe’s Hardware, Pretty For Me Nails By Nadine and Josh, Family Tire Pros, Express Lube and Smog, Just For Paws, Troy’s Pizza, Snap-On Tools, Canyon Lake Country Club, Auto Care USA, Wolfee Donuts, Sugar Dollz, Canyon Lake Powersports, Driver’s Ed .com, Extreme Clean, Sutton Sunglasses, Mary Kay, Russ and Cyndi Ahlgrim BAMF, Sheer Bliss Sue and Toni, Mark and Jamie Pulver, MC, Mike Cuicchi, Trevor and Austin Cuicchi, California Styles, Ashley, Devra, Safeglo Whips, Jason and Summer Herbert, Straight Edge, Alyssa Almada, Kirk and Wendy Munio from California Styles, Michelle and JT and the Storm Elite Baseball Team.

Ron says, “Please support these people and companies. They have given back to the community they live in!” The next fundraiser for the Baine family is scheduled for August 15, at 7 p.m. at the Country Club.

“We need to keep The Baine Train going to keep their day-to-day life as simple as possible,” says Ron. “Our number one goal is to find a liver donor who is compatible and willing to share a portion of their liver with Danny. This will take up six weeks of someone’s time. I wish I could be the donor. It would be nice to say I helped keep Danny alive!”

For more information or to make a donation directly to the family or for the next fundraiser drawing, contact Ron at 951-283-3800 or ron@aqualilypad.com.




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