PHOTOS: On A Mission For The Mission

Sunday August 28th, 2016, 1:02pm

Hello time traveller!!
This article is 3031 days old.
The information listed below is likely outdated and has been preserved for archival purposes.

Downtown residents might have thought another storm was rolling in this morning, but that rumble felt around 11am was in fact two hundred motorcycles taking off from The Downtown Mission.

“On A Mission for The Mission” is an annual event that invites bikers to take a tour through Essex County and to support a good cause at the same time.

Currently in its eighth year, this event has raised over $80,000 to date, according to Ron Dunn, executive director of The Windsor Downtown Mission.

“For a community that can have a bad rap, they do great,” says Dunn. “We have a group called ‘The Bad Examples,’ but I told them they should be changing their name to ‘The Good Examples’ for all the work they do.”

While The Mission used to run this event on their own, these days it’s a community-driven affair, run by two motorcyclists known as Frenchy and George.

“To receive a cheque for $10,000 in one day is huge for us,” Dunn continues, mentioning that the majority of donations received by The Mission are less than $100.

The Downtown Mission offers accommodation, meals, clothing, and work assistance to those in need, and does so without any government assistance.

Today’s event began with a $5 breakfast for all riders, and a trail of about two hundred bikes will make its way through Essex County, stopping at various legions along the way, to finally end up at The Colchester Bar and Grill for a barbeque this afternoon. Other bikers are invited to join the ride as it makes its way out to the shore of Lake Erie this afternoon.