Dedication Sunday for Fallen Bikers memorial

By Taylor Brown 

tbrown@yourmvi.com

A new memorial in Eighty Four will be dedicated this weekend in memory of loved ones who had a passion for motorcycles.

A local nonprofit organization, Fallen Bikers, will stop at Rosie’s Mingo Inn halfway through their ride to pay tribute to a memorial that’s years in the making. 

The Fallen Bikers Memorial Run will take place Sunday, beginning and ending at Coconut Joe’s Tiki Bar in Finleyville. 

President Jeff Hayes said he lost his brother, AJ “Chip” Hayes in a bike accident in 2004. The run was held in his brother’s memory for five years. 

The run continued in 2009, but changed its name and began donating proceeds to local nonprofit organizations and families in need. 

Now known as the Fallen Bikers Memory Run, this year’s event will pay tribute to those who had a passion for the open road. 

For the past few years, the group has organized the annual run to raise money for a memorial. 

In the past few years, organizers have raised more than $15,000. The monument cost $10,000 and will be added to annually as name blocks are purchased.

“We started this project three years ago,” Hayes said. “Last year didn’t really count and we floated through. But this year, we have reached our goal. It’s phenomenal.”

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