About 20 bikers gathered at Alida on Sept. 7 to go on Richard Carriere Memorial Bike Ride. Sad circumstances, but high goals brought them all together and inspired them to do something valuable in honour of the people who were dear to them.
The ride was dedicated to the memory of Richard Carriere of Alida who was killed in an accident on May 10, 2019, in California where he and his friends were on a motorcycle trip.
Trish Read, who was organizing the event, talked about her connection to Carriere.
“Richard was in our family for as long as I can remember, he lived three doors down from us, was always with my brothers… I worked for Richard since about 2006. He always seemed to know when it was turtle making day or a baking day, never failed that was the day he would drop off his books to get done,” recalled Read.
The ride was also honouring the memory of another very dear person to participants – Ruby Barnes, who went missing on June 18, 2018, in the Carlyle area and after four months of searchng was found dead in the Esterhazy area.
“Ruby came into our family, when her daughter Becky hooked up with my brother, Bruce (Bayliss), in 1986. Ruby was the sweetest most loving person,” remembered Read, who was born Bayliss.
The idea of the ride came together sometime this summer along the lines of formation of committees of the newly born Southeast Saskatchewan Search and Rescue (SESK SAR) chapter 19. This volunteer organization that is now starting to train first members from southeast Saskatchewan, will soon become a full-scale resource in case anybody in the area ever goes missing again.
“After the chapter started in 2019 for SESK SAR of course, we need money. Fundraising. After Richard’s accident, it just fell together. We could raise money doing something that Richard loved. Ride motorcycles in his honour, and raise money in Ruby’s honour,” said Read, who is a member of the chapter.
The poker ride had participants going from Alida to Moosomin, to Kenosee, to Oxbow and then to Carnduff, where the supper was served to about a hundred people. Had the weather been nicer there probably would be a better turnout, but Read said she was happy with how the event went and she was happy to see all the people.
At each stop, riders could buy cards. Also, four bachelors were auctioned off during the night, raising $340. All leftover meat, cooked and uncooked, was auctioned off as well raising another $925.
Read thanked all people who donated and dedicated their time honouring the memory and helping SESK SAR move forward.
“I want to thank the volunteers who helped get the supper made and ready. To my brother Ken Bayliss for doing the cooking, to everyone who made salads, worked the bar, sold T-shirts and bandanas, helped clean up, helped set up the shelter, who dealt cards at the stops,”
The total raised during the day was about $4,000. The money that was raised will be used to purchase the equipment for SESK SAR.
“I hope our ride was healing. I pray that our chapter is never called out, but if that ever happens, we will be prepared through hours of training, and enough supplies, paid for by our fundraising efforts.”
Earlier this year, in memory of Ruby Barnes the Bayliss family donated the incident command trailer, which is one of the main assets for a volunteer SAR organization.
