Bike show raises money for Habitat for Humanity

Larry Sawyers' Harley Davidson has won every contest it's been in, and Sunday's bike show at Texas Roadhouse continued the streak.

"It's the chrome," said Lesia Miller, who made the 90-mile trip to Cape Girardeau from Caruthersville, Mo., with Sawyers to show off his 2005 Harley Davidson Road King for the Freedom Fest Motorcycle Show.

Proceeds from the bike entries, raffle tickets and outdoor food and drink sales go directly to the Cape Area Habitat for Humanity. Local musicians The Sorries played throughout the afternoon and riders trailed in and out for the show.

The bike show fell in the middle of a week-long celebration focusing on community service including a canned food drive, a litter pick up and a Kids Day on Tuesday. Texas Roadhouse employees have been donating their time to passing out children's coins for free meals and working the bike show Sunday.

"We're hoping to make this an annual event," said Kelli Holland, an employee with Texas Roadhouse. Holland estimated the day's total between $500 and $1,000.

The restaurant has a history of helping the Habitat organization in Cape Girardeau. Holland said several employees have helped build homes and the Texas Roadhouse corporation has had fund-raisers before for Habitat for Humanity.

"It's a great organization," Holland said. Roughly 15 to 20 bikes entered the show Sunday.

Steve Parker brought out a bit of nostalgia for the show. He and two others rode Honda Dreams from the 1960s.

"The Three Dreamers," as they were dubbed by Parker, were lined up: red, white and black.

Parker had a white 1969 Honda 160 Dream accompanied by a red 1966 250 Dream and a black 1966 300 Dream.

"That was the first big bike I rode when I was a kid," he said pointing to his white road bike.

Cape Area Habitat for Humanity works with the community to build homes in partnership with people in need. The organization has built 25 homes since its inception 25 years ago.

"Now our goal is to build five each year in the next five years," said Lowell Peterson, treasurer with the Cape Area Habitat chapter. One has been completed so far, and three more are in the works.

Habitat for Humanity builds houses for families whose income is between 25 and 50 percent of the median income.

"That works out to be about $13,000 to $25,000 depending on the number of people in the family," Peterson said. Applicants must be legal residents and have lived in the area for at least a year.

Habitat for Humanity is primarily funded by donations -- whether that's money, time or materials, Peterson said.

"I wish it was some magic money that came from somewhere, but it isn't," he said. "It really is small donations from people."

charris@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246