TOWER — Buddy Bears have become an important tool for first responders in our area, thanks to the ABATE motorcycle group from central Minnesota. American Bikers for Awareness, Training, and Education of Minnesota is a nonprofit, grassroots organization that is committed to educating motorcyclists and the general public about motorcycling.
About 20 club members traveled to Tower on Saturday, some by motorcycle, others by car, to drop off 120 more small stuffed teddy bears, which were donated to the Tower Ambulance Service and other area fire departments.
The ride up was part of the Kelly Pierson Memorial Ride, in honor of a former club secretary who died a little over a year ago in a motorcycle accident. Kelly was the coordinator for the Buddy Bear program for this ABATE chapter. Her husband, Jim, who lost part of his leg in a different motorcycle accident earlier this year (motorcycle vs. dog), was also on hand for the event. After lunch in Tower, the group headed to Vermilion Senior Living, the Cook Care Center, and another Iron Range nursing home before heading home. They said seniors enjoy seeing all their motorcycles and visiting with the riders.
The group raises funds to purchase the bears through club fundraisers, including their booth at the North Branch Hay Days festival, and from charitable gambling proceeds.
The group also presented Tower Ambulance Supervisor Dena Suihkonen with a handmade lap quilt. Suihkonen said they were all out of Buddy Bears, so they were happy to receive a new batch. They are especially helpful when dealing with pediatric ambulance patients, she said, as well as for others with special needs that need help calming down.
The ABATE members said they would love to see a new chapter formed in northern Minnesota.
The bears this year are being donated to fire departments in Tower, Breitung, Vermilion Lake, Morse, and Eagles Nest, in addition to the Tower Ambulance. All these volunteers sent a big thanks again to ABATE for their generosity and to our local first responders for their continued service. If you’d like to learn more about ABATE feel free to visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064514237382 or their website at: https://eastcentralabate.org/about-us.