Eastlake Council awards key to the City to Gray Riders Motorcycle Association

Eastlake Mayor Dennis Morley, on behalf of City Council, has issued a proclamation and presented the Gray Riders Motorcycle Association with the symbolic key to the city.

The Gray Riders group, which describe itself as a family-oriented association, was recognized at the May 22 City Council meeting for its continued efforts to raise money for the Eastlake Police Activities League with its annual dice run held in August.

“They do a lot of work here in the city helping the youth and they are also now branching off into raising funds for the Police Department for the K-9 unit,” said Councilman Kim Evers. “So, we would like to take the opportunity to recognize them for all they have done.”

The proclamation read by the mayor recognizes the group for the work they have done for E-PAL over the past four years.

The Gray Riders’ first run for Eastlake was in 2012 to raise money for one of the police officers whose family member had cancer. They also have been contributors to the Boulevard of 500 Flags.

The group has raised almost $70,000 in the past four year and has adopted E-PAL as its official organization to support.

Gray Riders President George Hoyt called it a great honor. He said he has been riding for a lot of years and has never heard of a motorcycle association getting that kind of an honor.

“What we are hoping is that this gets the word out to the public,” Hoyt said. “People have the stereotype of motorcycle clubs and they tend to shy away from events that are trying to raise money, and we need the public to get involved and to help us. So we are hoping this gets the word out to everyone.”

The organization is planning its annual dice run for E-PAL while the Brothers of Descent group, which is made up of the children of the Gray Riders, is planning a dice run to raise funds for the K-9 unit.

Police Chief Larry Reik notes that the Gray Riders group has been involved with everything E-PAL has done and agrees with Hoyt that there is a stigma attached to motorcycle groups.

“I’m glad to have them be part of the infrastructure,” the chief said.

“It was a good thing, It was real deserved,” Evers said of the group being recognized. “A lot of people don’t realize how much these motorcycle clubs do. All the bike runs people see, they pay for out of their pockets not to mention the other expenses, the 50/50 tickets, the Chinese auction tickets, and it all goes back to the community.

“We have been very fortunate here in Eastlake and at E-PAL that the Gray Riders have adopted us. It’s been a great working relationship with those guys and it helps keep the community center open and it keeps our programs going.”

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