Chicks who ride to support women’s charities and women-owned businesses! The Chick Run Association of Grand Rapids Michigan is group of women who up the ante on what it means to be a woman motorcycle rider. Holding an annual ride on the first Saturday in June, The Chick Run Association raises money for different local charities that specifically help women, as well as supporting women-owned businesses along the route. Started in 1999, their first ride had 26 women bikers, and has grown to over 100 in recent years, with women from Michigan and Indiana joining the ride. The friendships made and camaraderie of the ride is what makes it extra special. Debbie Hoffman, a Chick Run organizer commented “The best part of this, or any journey, is the people we meet along the way. Seeing that big line of all women riders is so empowering!”
They have raised thousands of dollars for local charities like Gilda’s Club for women affected by cancer, Safe Haven Ministries who helps women hurt by domestic violence and Grand Rapids Organization for Women that assists women owned businesses. In 2013 they donated $1200 in cash to Our Hope Association in Grand Rapids, who assist women to lifelong recovery from alcoholism and addiction. “I love calling the charity we choose each year and telling them that we’re going to be donating money. Their reactions are just priceless!” says Anne Cole, one of the organizers. In addition to supporting women’s charities, The Chick Run Association also plan the ride route to patronize women-owned businesses, stopping to local restaurants and watering holes along the way, riding a different route each year to spread their message all over West Michigan. Taking it one step further, they also patronize women-owned businesses for supplies, and even promotions, for the ride. At every stop, door prizes from local artists, gift certificates for local restaurants and lots of great stuff from women, for women, are raffled off, with proceeds benefitting the charity. Every aspect of the ride involves other women as much as possible.
“We’re doing a really unique thing here – an all women biker run – and I’m proud of that!” says Kat Sampson, a Chick Run organizer. “It’s not only the sole women’s ride that starts in Grand Rapids, but we spend a lot of time planning a great route all over West Michigan, along scenic back roads that take us out to support of other women.”
Talk about empowering.
