By TRINA HOY
Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Kosciusko County will hold its Fourth Annual Big Ride on Saturday, Aug. 1. The event provides riders with the chance to enjoy the open air during the 100-mile round trip ride throughout Kosciusko County starting at Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Warsaw location, 1603 N. Detroit St., with a send-off by Nationally-known guitarist, Kevin Kyle, as he plays his amazing rendition of The National Anthem preceded by a Color Guard by the JROTC.

Registration starts at 10 a.m. with the color guard and National Anthem at 10:45 a.m. The ride will begin at 11 a.m.

The state police escorted motorcycle ride will return to Big Brothers Big Sisters’ location where the party begins and lunch is provided to riders. You will enjoy door prizes, live music by local rock band, “Hotline,” a raffle, bake sale, and kid’s activities — all while giving back to the local community.

Cost to riders is $20 for a single rider and $25 for a rider with passenger. All money raised from this event stays in Kosciusko County to support the mentoring of local at-risk children. This money is used to directly and professionally support both current matches and create new matches within Kosciusko County.

Bring the whole family for the live music and stay for lunch where there will be hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches to purchase, or enjoy some homemade goodies from the bake sale. The Fourth Annual BIG Ride event is a great opportunity for current ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ to have fun, and for community members to support local mentoring and learn more about how YOU can make a difference in your community through mentoring.

According to “Big” Laster Boggs, “Nothing compares to the rumble of motorcycles gleaming in the sun gliding over the black pavement. It’s the Big Ride for Kids’ Sake, but it not about the ride—it’s about the BIG difference you can make in a boy or girl’s life in Kosciusko County. It’s about making BIG moments in their life they will never forget. It’s about you and your BIG heart coming together for a cause that can change the life of a ‘Little’ in such a BIG way.”

The BIG Ride provides the community with the opportunity to support the local programs offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters. In Kosciusko County where more than 2,000 children live in single-parent homes, and approximately 16 percent live in poverty. By having a mentor, these children have statistically proven to break the cycle. Children in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ programs are 46% less likely to use illegal drugs, 89% more likely to do better in school, 42 percent more likely to earn a college degree and 33 percent less likely to commit physical violence.

To learn more about how you can support the children in Kosciusko County, to sign up for the BIG Ride, or to volunteer just a few hours a month, please contact your local Big Brothers Big Sisters representative, Trina Hoy at (574) 551-6386 or via email at [email protected].