Members of the Dixie Thunder ABATE motorcycle club lent a helping hand to the schoolchildren fostered at Helping Hands of Aiken on Saturday. The club held its annual school supply drive and ride-in to Helping Hands on Saturday. More than 50 motorcycles made their way from a Clearwater shopping center to the Helping Hands facility in downtown Aiken; each bike was loaded with at least one shopping bag of school supplies, and many brought along more than one bag. The Dixie Thunder members also passed the helmet among themselves for cash donations while at Helping Hands and gathered more than… Read the rest

Now they are the ones that need help, and their biker family is rallying around them.

Annual Toy Run at Helping Hands makes children’s Christmas brighter Some of the children gathered knew what to expect when they felt the rumbles that shook the ground and the sounds of thunder growing louder on Saturday while others stood in amazement. Santa’s sleigh arrived at Helping Hands with a non-traditional pack of reindeer and elves. More than 100 bikes and nearly 200 riders who donned Santa hats and black leather rode into Helping Hands bearing presents in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Dixie Thunder of Aiken County ABATE of South Carolina’s annual Toy Run. “This is a… Read the rest

. Dixie Thunder Abate held its seventh annual Back to School Run in which local bikers band together to help make a difference in the lives of youth at Helping Hands. Nearly 120 riders participated and about 75 bikes roared through town, making a grand entrance as they delivered school supplies to Helping Hands.

Leather-clad motorcycle riders paraded through Aiken on Saturday carrying paper, pencils and even pink backpacks Bikers make a difference in students’ lives 8/22/2009 10:28 PM By RACHEL JOHNSON Staff writer From the Aiken Standard:  http://www.aikenstandard.com/Local/0823Helping Photos of the event are here:  Helping Hands Back to school run 2009 Leather-clad motorcycle riders paraded through Aiken on Saturday carrying paper, pencils and even pink backpacks. Dixie Thunder Abate held its seventh annual Back to School Run in which local bikers band together to help make a difference in the lives of youth at Helping Hands. Nearly 120 riders participated and about 75… Read the rest

Rumbling could be felt in the sidewalks of Aiken yesterday as well over 250 bikers joined forces to spread the spirit of giving.

Rumbling could be felt in the sidewalks of Aiken yesterday as well over 250 bikers joined forces to spread the spirit of giving. 12/6/2008 11:40 PM By RACHEL JOHNSON Staff writer The Dixie Thunder of Aiken ABATE of South Carolina association held its 24th Annual Toy Run to benefit Helping Hands Inc. on Saturday. Helping Hands is a nonprofit organization that provides shelter for abused and neglected children. “It is an unmistakable sound,” said Carmen Landy, director of Helping Hands. “This motorcycle run has always marked the beginning of the Christmas season for us. The countdown begins once the motorcycles… Read the rest

Revving engines and helping others was the goal on Saturday as bikers from all over the county came together to aid handicapped pets. By RACHEL JOHNSON Staff writer Riding for a cause, the Dixie Thunder of Aiken ABATE of South Carolina association held its second Crippled Critter Benefit Pawker Run on Saturday. Nearly 40 motorcyclists participated, along with a few cars. The Pawker Run was established a year ago by a local Dixie Thunder member as a means of helping Handipets, a privately operated group that helps animals in need. Many of the pets are disabled, and all have been… Read the rest

Thunder was heard all over Aiken County on Saturday, but it was not the weather.  The Dixie Thunder Aiken ABATE organization held a “Run for the Legislature.” Staff photo by Rachel Johnson By RACHEL JOHNSON Staff writer Dixie Thunder is the local chapter of the ABATE of South Carolina, a state motorcyclists’ rights organization that stands for “A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments.” While one of the group’s main focuses is to raise motorcycle safety awareness for drivers of both cyclists and vehicles, they also like to have a little fun and even get political from time to time. Saturday’s event… Read the rest

The parking lot at Helping Hands filled up with leather and chrome Saturday afternoon as the Dixie Thunder Aiken chapter of ABATE completed its annual Back to School Run. By SUZANNE R. STONE Staff writer The watchdog group for motorcycle-related legislation gathered 40 to 45 bikes for a ride from North Augusta to Helping Hands, where each rider delivered one or more bags of school supplies and a cash donation for the purchase of additional supplies. The group has been doing the Back to School Run for 25 years, according to Dixie Thunder chapter coordinator Rick Cooper. “We do… Read the rest