Hogs For Hospice - 2019

Bikers are a very charitable bunch of people.  This is not news if you ride a motorcycle.  There is always an event around the world were bikers are raising money and donating to a good cause.  Last year we exhibiting at the Motorcycle Super Show in Toronto in early January.  At the show we met a group of bikers who do a charity event in Leamington, Ontario Canada called Hogs for Hospice.  An event was organized by the citizens of Leamington over three years ago, who had the vision of creating a world class motorcycle event that would raise money to support a new Hospice campus and health care center.  Hospice care is a cause close to me, since my Mother,  had to go to Hospice in her final days.  The care and compassion is unsurpassed for your loved ones during their final days in any Hospice Care Hospital around the world, so for sure a cause we can get behind.  Lethal Threat®, being an art driven company, we offered to donate our design services for the event shirts to raise funds for the cause.  The group had a logo, but little much else in the ways of designs.

Time to give their logo the Lethal Threat treatment!  The goal was to design a shirt that would be a go to favorite for all those who bought one at the event.  Regardless, the event was going to sell a lot of shirts to support the charity,  a cool design was just the icing on the cake.  We came up with a design geared towards a guy and one for the ladies.  The group was thrilled with the designs we came up with.  Their satisfaction was the only payment we needed.  The Hogs for Hospice Canadians, being some of the nicest people in the world, offered us a free spot at their event.  So we decided to head North and be part of the Hogs for Hospice Rally. 

We had to load up our trailer with our tents and gear and decided to bring our Lethal Threat bike for some riding and display. We set out bright and early for the 11 hour ride that would take us through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and then over the border into Canada.  First time we crossed the border with a trailer.  The guys at Hogs gave us an invitation letter to show the border patrol and we sailed right through customs.  A couple of questions by customs but no trailer or vehicle search.  By the time we got to our Air B n B it was pretty late in the evening.  If you do shows you know the grind,  get up early the next morning, grab some breakfast and head to the event to do your set up.  Leamington is the southernmost point in Canada across from Ohio on Lake Erie.  On a good clear day you can see Ohio on the other side of the lake.  The event site was at Seacliff Park.  A park right on Lake Erie with an Amphitheater to host some big name music acts that support the rally.  The event was very well organized and we were directed to our spot were we started our tent and display setup.  People were waiting to buy our goods while we were setting up.  Always a good sign.

The show kicked off Friday afternoon, with precision riding group and a group of Motocross stunt riders getting some big air on the streets of Leamington.  Friday night, Vince Neil from Motley Crue, was rocking the crowd at the amphitheater.

The next morning,  the event kicked off early Saturday morning with an opening ceremony of pipes and drums, a welcome speech from the mayor of Leamington and young girl who lost her Father the previous year to a motorcycle accident, who was invited as a guest of honor.  Before the ceremonies had started a steady stream of motorcycles and their riders were arriving to the event.  I have been to many a bike rally, but the number of bikers at this event was unbelievable. After the ceremony,  all the bikes line up,  side by side,  staged on different streets to start the ride "Tour the Tip"  A four hour ride that led riders to the most southern tip of mainland Canada inside Point Pelee National Park and then back to the start point.  Super well organized ride,  with not one downed bike.  An incredible accomplishment with thousands of bikes in such close proximity.

Bikers started arriving back to the park, the start point, for lunch, beers, vendors and live music that went on till sun down.  The last day of a rally is usually a sleeper, but not this rally.  A full day of biker games were going on ending with a smoke filled tire burnout contest.  Year after year the Hogs for Hospice Rally grows in attendance and the money raised for hospice increases year after year thank to the generosity to all who attend.  Here at Lethal Threat® we are happy to contribute in our small way to this great cause.  The event takes place this year July 31st to August 2nd.  Great people, a great cause and a chance to see how Canadian bikers party!  Check out www.hogsforhospice.com for more info.