The ride raised $8,775, in line with organizer Francis Chamberlin.
WISE COUNTY, Texas — Hundreds of motorcyclists traveled from Azel to Paradise Monday afternoon to honor Athena Strand and lift cash for her family.
The ride raised $8,775, in line with organizer Francis Chamberlin.
“She didn’t deserve this,” Chamberlin instructed WFAA.
“She was young. She still had her life ahead of her. And now she’s gone.”
On Friday evening, Wise County officers gave the heartbreaking replace that 7-year-old Strand, who had been lacking since Wednesday, Nov. 30 and had an AMBER Alert issued on the morning of Dec. 1, was discovered lifeless lower than 10 miles from her residence.
Officials mentioned a 31-year-old contracted FedEx truck driver was accountable for her demise.
Chamberlin mentioned Monday’s occasion got here collectively in a single day. He acquired feedback on Facebook from hundreds of individuals throughout the nation keen to assist.
“I hope it touches [her family members’] hearts,” he mentioned in tears.
The bikers wore pink, as did hundreds of individuals throughout the nation, in Athena’s honor.
The ride resulted in entrance of Paradise Elementary School, the place Athena was a scholar.
Students, all wearing pink, lined up on the playground and waved to the motorcyclists as they handed by.
“There’s no reason, no rhyme, anything like this should ever happen,” rider Bubba Anders mentioned.
“I think about this every day.”
Sherri Mahar additionally biked the 20-mile route.
“Losing your child’s got to be the worst thing in the world…so for that little girl to have that happen is just devastating,” she mentioned.
The ride ended just some hours earlier than a 6:30 p.m. vigil for Athena in entrance of the Wise County Courthouse.
story by Source link