Bikes for Beats
For most festival organizers it starts with a passion for something, for music festival organizers it’s usually the music but for Lindsay Pennel, the organizer of Bikes for Beats, a new festival looking to become part of the festival pulse in the heart of the Thousand Islands, the passion is a matter of the heart…literally.
Just 5 years ago Lindsay lost her father at the age of 54 to a cardiac arrest. Her father was an active hockey and golf player and by all accounts was doing everything right. Although she knows that nothing will bring her father back her goal is to honor his memory by ensuring that something is done so that no one else in the Brockville area has to suffer through what she and her family had to endure.
Brockville, a small city in the heart of the Thousand Islands just south west of Ottawa, is served by the Brockville General Hospital. As the Recorder and Times recently reported the hospital has been developing it’s own cardiovascular program since early 2009 many, including Lindsay’s own grandfather, still travel outside of the region to larger centres like Ottawa and Kingston for treatment due to lack of heart-care professionals in Brockville. The cost for the Brockville General to run their program requires $176,000 to remain active, a number that must be reached with no government support and relies completely on donor support and Hospital fundraisers throughout the year.
Bikes for Beats
Lindsay first approached us last fall about an idea she had to put on a Motorcycle themed event to raise money for the Cardiovascular program at the Brockville General Hospital. We felt and still feel that the idea is brilliant. Bikers and health related causes go hand in hand these days. You have the annual Ride for Dad, which just ran through parts of the region, raises awareness to prostate cancer and then on Canada Day weekend is one of the largest Motorcycle Rallies in Ontario (perhaps even north of Sturgis) the New Liskeard Biker’s Reunion to End Cancer (an event we are thrilled to have been a sponsor off since 2011).
Bikes for Beats is a free event for the whole family to enjoy and will take place this Sunday, on Fathers Day, in tribute to her own late father, will feature live entertainment, food as well as 10 classes of Motorcycles, Class and People’s Choice Prizes, Motorcycle Vendors and Demonstrations and more. The people’s choice winner will win a Two Night Stay in Montreal. Lindsay hopes that this annual event will make Brockville a destination for Motorcycle enthusiasts. Bikers interested in registering, the cost is merely $25 to enter with all proceeds going directly to the Brockville General Hospital Cardiovascular program.
If you would like more information or if you are unable to make it to the event but would still like to donate information can be found at the event’s website www.bikesforbeats.com.
If the New Liskeard Biker’s Reunion is any indication, it started as a small BBQ in 1999 and since becoming an annual event in 2004 has raised $815, 000 for the Cancer Care Unit at Temiskaming Hospital. In 2012 the event attracted over 6,000 bikes and more than 25,000 spectators a number that swells every summer. We feel strongly that Bikes for Beats can become the Biker’s Reunion of the Thousand Islands and will become a must stop annual event for the motorcycle community in North America.
We will be attending on Sunday and will have live coverage on social media as well on the blog after the event has completed. If you like Bikes and can get to Brockville, Ontario on Sunday the Thousand Islands Mall is the place to be from noon – 5pm.
