Every year for the past six years, those who knew the late Brad Barrows gather at the former “Brad’s” at 35 County Road to honor and remember its past owner with a ride around town to raise money for a cause that was important to Barrows – kids participating in youth sports.
Dick Barrett helps organize the event each year, and on the morning of the September 19 event, Barrett was where he always is – directing registered riders on their motorcycles into a line formation as they arrived. Barrett remembered six years ago when they held the very first Brad Barrows Ride to raise money for local youth sports organizations.
“We just got together one day … me, Peter Collins and Rory McFee,” said Barrows. “We just decided we should do a fundraiser for the youth sports in Brad’s name.”
Ever since then, the event attracts around 60 to 70 people upon roughly 40 motorcycles of all sizes, colors, makes, and models. Many of those riders, said Barrett, return to ride every year.
Just about nothing has changed since that first ride, except for how the group plans to distribute the money this year. Instead of simply sending out checks to different local sports organizations such as the sailing program, little league, and other sports, this year the group will invite those individual families who need help funding their child’s sports participation to come forward. Barrett said he will be placing a press release in The Wanderer announcing when funds will be available and urging those who need the funding most to contact the group.
Barrett said Barrows was always volunteering his time and sponsoring local youth sports programs, and his spirit of giving is what drives this ride year after year.
“He was always involved,” said Barrett. “That’s why we did it in his name. He was a great guy. He was well-loved by everybody in town.”
By Jean Perry
