Elks Riders chapter raises money for brain-injured child

Alex Burke, the president of Lakewood Ranch Sarasota’s chapter of Elks Riders, hopped onto his 2013 Honda Fury motorcycle and joined dozens of other Elks Riders members from four different chapters. 

As a group, the members from the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota, Palmetto, Bradenton and South Hillsborough chapters rode from lodge to lodge to support Bradenton’s Cole Young during the national Brain Injured Child Ride April 14.

Young, who is 1 year old, has cerebral palsy. He was born at 23 weeks and six days on March 27 and was rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 

Amy Smith, Young’s mother, said the birth of her son was unexpected as her pregnancy was going smoothly. Young spent 155 days in NICUs at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. He finally was able to come home Aug. 27. 

“I can’t believe how well he’s doing,” Smith said of Young. “There are a lot of uncertainties right now, but just seeing him smile is enough. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see that.”

Photo by Jay Heater

After months of having to visit her son in a hospital and learning to advocate for a child with cerebral palsy as well as knowing every day is uncertain, Smith was ecstatic an organization like the Elk Riders was willing to support her family.

“I didn’t realize anything like this was possible,” Smith said. “You hear about it but for it to be your family and your son, it gives me chills.”

Burke said it was an honor to have the Lakewood Ranch Sarasota Elks Riders participate in the Brain Injured Child Ride. 

With the chapter in its first year, Burke said the Brain Injured Child event was the perfect opportunity to see how other Elks Riders chapters hosted events to support the community. 

Burke said the chapter, which has at least 20 members, still is brainstorming ways to support the community throughout the year, but he hopes the Lakewood Ranch Sarasota chapter can support a family on its own for future Brain Injured Child Rides. The chapter became officially recognized in January. 

“We just want to experience maybe one or two (events) that other lodges happen to host so we can get a grasp and know what we need to do on the back end with planning, preparation and execution when we get there,” he said. “We have a lot of potential going forward. I’m excited. The group we have is really into it. Everyone wants to step up and get involved.”

Burke said it was great to see four chapters be “united under one big great cause” while having a good time. 

The Bradenton Elks Riders chapter also hosted an event for Young and his family April 13. 

Throughout the Brain Injured Child Ride, the riders stopped at each of the participating chapters and participated in fundraising opportunities including a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle to continue to raise money for Young. 

Smith said knowing what all the Elks Riders have done to support her family leaves her speechless. She said the money raised during the event will help pay for Young’s medical bills, which brings her family peace of mind.