Cats and dogs want you to hit the hog for a causeDate: 8/5/2009 By Cory Garwicki
Staff Intern
SPRINGFIELD It's time once again for the annual "Ride Like an Animal" motorcycle run to benefit the Thomas J. O'Connor Center Foundation.
Area motorcycle enthusiasts as well as non-bikers are invited to join the staff on Aug. 8 for a day of fun filled festivities. The foundation helps the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center (TJO) to provide a wide variety of programs and special services for the animals that reside within the Pioneer Valley.
"We hope to see a larger turnout of people this year than we did last year, especially non-riders," Sarah Rohan, operations manager at TJO, said.
"It's important that people know that this event is so much more than just people riding their motorcycles along some route for charity," Rohan told said.
Riders may register between 10 and 11 a.m. on the morning of the event, as well as by visiting the TJO Web site at www.tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com.
The route is scheduled to take riders fromTJO on Cottage Street up to the Quabbin Reservoir, and then wind its way over to the Holyoke Lodge of Elks.
From 1 to 4 p.m bikers and non-bikers will be able to enjoy a relaxing barbecue and entertainent by local rock 'n' roll band Equinox.
Tickets to this event are $25 per rider, which also includes admission to post-ride festivities.
For those looking to come out to the Holyoke Lodge of Elks after the motorcycle ride wraps up, tickets are $15 for adults, and $7 for children 12 and under.
"It's our biggest fundraiser of the year. Last year we had a total of 88 riders that came out for the ride ... but we're hoping to be able to get at least 100 this year," Rohan stated.
"We were able to raise a total of $9,000 for the Thomas J. O'Connor Foundation through last year's first ever 'Ride Like an Animal' motorcycle event. This year we hope to be able to achieve our fundraising goal of $15,000," she said.
The Holyoke Lodge of Elks is located at 250 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke.
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