CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Harley Davidson enthusiast Paul Haddad is organizing a bikers’ rally for Saturday in Charlottetown to support first responders and front-line workers.
Haddad said he was inspired by one of the many catch-phrases Premier Dennis King has uttered during the coronavirus pandemic – FU COVID.
“There are a lot of people out there thinking, ‘what can I do to give back’? This is a time where the world has changed but our spirits have grown stronger and people want to do more; give more,’’ Haddad said.
He said a lot of people have done a lot of different things to show support for one another since the pandemic led to physical distancing measures. They range from dancing to singing on social media and connecting through technology like Zoom.
“I want to do my share and I can’t dance or sing, but I love to ride (motorcycles).’’
Rally map
A look at the Bikers Against Covid rally set for Saturday, June 6:
- It begins at North River Fire Department in Cornwall at 11 a.m.
- The bikers will proceed to RCMP L Division headquarters on University Avenue in Charlottetown, Charlottetown Police Services headquarters on Kirkwood Drive, through Victoria Park, past Charlottetown City Hall and the fire department.
- The rally heads across the Hillsborough Bridge to Stratford. It goes to the Stratford Emergency Centre, around the roundabout and back to Charlottetown, to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and ends at fire department in Sherwood.
- For more information on the rally, visit Bikers Against Covid on Facebook. It’s also linked through Haddad’s personal Facebook page.
Haddad said he hopes to have as many as 200 bikers participating in the parade, and physical distancing will be maintained. It begins at 11 a.m. at the North River Fire Department in Cornwall. The procession continues through Charlottetown to Stratford before backtracking into the city where the parade will wrap up at the Sherwood station of the Charlottetown Fire Department.
Registration is $20 and will take place at the North River Fire Department between 9:30 and 11 a.m. All proceeds are being donated to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation.
All proceeds are being donated to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation.
Haddad said it’s difficult not to feel affected by everything that has happened since March – the pandemic, the mass shooting in Nova Scotia, the naval helicopter crash and the death of Capt. Jennifer Casey in the Snowbirds tragedy.
“This is a salute to our front-line workers, our first responders, Charlottetownians, Islanders and Canadians. The virus (alone) has affected everybody around the world. Front-line workers are like the soldiers ... they’re leaving their families behind, their children behind and risking their lives to fight this virus. How can you not salute and respect that? They’re sacrificing their own health and well-being.’’
