Ride for ARCH gets bigger and better (14 photos)

For Marcy and Alex D’Ettorre, the annual Ride for ARCH is a must.

The couple initiated the ride, hosted by Reggie and Christine Daigle of Reggie’s, in 2015.

“Christine and Reggie (Reggie, by the way, celebrated his birthday Saturday) had been doing meat draws for a while and donating the money to ARCH, but she wanted to go bigger and she approached us because we ride, and we were more than happy to do it because we had family members pass away at ARCH. It’s an important cause,” Marcy told SooToday before the start of the fourth annual Ride for ARCH Saturday.

“What made us continue doing it is because Tyrone (Souliere, a friend and bassist in Alex’s band) had passed away in 2015, and in memory of him we wanted to continue doing it, not just a one-time thing. It started to become annual, and most of the people that come out for the ride had loved ones that passed away at ARCH.”

“A lot of them also carry the ashes of their loved ones around their necks for the ride, which is very sweet,” Marcy added.

The ride raised $5,000 in its first year, $10,000 in its second, $20,000 in its third.

“This year we’re hoping to surpass the $20,000 mark,” Marcy smiled.

The approximately 90-minute ride set out from Reggie’s West at 306 Korah Rd., along Wallace Terrace, Goulais Avenue, around the loop at ARCH on Fourth Line, east along Highway 17 past the house of Tyrone Souliere, then back to Reggie’s West.

Six live bands were scheduled to play at a street party on Korah Road directly opposite Reggie’s West beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 11 p.m., with more live music inside Reggie’s West until 1:30 a.m.

Several local businesses donated prizes and food.

One hundred per cent of the proceeds go to ARCH.

One hundred one bikers from the Sault and Algoma region had registered for the ride just prior to its start at 12 p.m. Saturday.