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Letter to the editor

Guide dogs are focus of bike rally

brandon The second annual event raises money for Paws for Patriots.

By Jan Wesner Times Staff Writer
Published November 2, 2007

From there, an idea was born.

On Nov. 10, the Old Town Harley Owners Group will hold its second annual rally in Brandon to raise money for Southeastern Guide Dogs Paws for Patriots.

"All these soldiers that are coming back with life-changing injuries needed some help," organizer Barbara Wesner said.

Paws for Patriots has placed at least six dogs with blind or injured veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including local veteran Mike Jernigan. He lost both eyes to a roadside bomb in Iraq and was featured in a recent HBO documentary.

Each guide dog costs $40,000 to raise and train.

Last year, the Harley owners raised $18,000.

The fundraiser includes a poker run - a sort of scavenger hunt where motorcyclists pick up a playing card at each stop and then see who gets the best poker hand - as well as a raffle and other activities.

There are several other ways to help the program, either financially or as a volunteer helping to take care of the puppies.

"We really just want to get the word out that the program exists," Wesner said.

The poker run kicks off at 11 a.m. from the Best Western Hotel at 9331 Adamo Drive.

The ride ends at 2 p.m. at Harley-Davidson of Brandon, where there will be vendors, live music and other special events as part of the dealer's anniversary celebration.

Contact Jan Wesner at jwesner@sptimes.com or 661-2439.

[Last modified November 1, 2007, 07:21:29]