Doctors have fun raising money for kids despite the rain
Written by Phil Cerroni
Doctors have fun raising money for kids despite the rain
By Phil Cerroni
There is no shortage of charity fundraisers in Irving; individuals and groups are always throwing galas or organizing golf tournaments, but how many folks looking to raise money for charity, organize a motorcycle run that includes beer, barbecue and Hooters girls?
That is exactly what Healthcare Associates of Irving did on Sep. 29. In their effort to support the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation, the Irving based multi-specialty private practice turned the parking lot of their office into a carnival ground with a bounce house, carnival games, a large smoker named Junior, an energetic DJ, silent auction and of course barbecue, bikes and babes.
“We were just looking for a good children’s charity,” said Dr. Mark Anderson, one of the practice’s family medicine physicians and one of the event’s primary organizers. “I ride motorcycles, and I figured if you’re going to have an event and want to have fun, you have to have some motorcycles there.”
Dr. Anderson continued to say that the idea of a motorcycle run for charity was born out of a desire to create an event that would engage the entire community at Healthcare Associates of Irving.
“We wanted to have a charity that Healthcare Associates of Irving could rally behind,” he said. “So last year we started the Hogs and Hearts and tried to have the motorcycle guys come out and then have kids’ games and carnival to appeal to all ages.”
The run was cancelled due to continuous rain all day. Even though Dr. Anderson was expecting a large run, he was not dismayed by the turn of events.
“We expected fifty to one hundred [riders], but the weather wiped us out,” he said. “So we brought the run folks over here and the girls from Hooters, and we’re going to have it all over here underneath the tent.”
Joel Bailleu, The CEO of Healthcare Associates, was also pleased with the blend of activities the event had to offer.
“We try to create a fun, unique experience based around healthcare,” Bailleu said. “We have some wellness things, it’s kind of a kid oriented, but by the same token, we know that people who ride Harleys support kids so it’s a unique mix, it’s a family atmosphere and we have a great time doing it.”
Although the afternoon may have had the atmosphere of a block party, the organization put in a lot of work to ensure that they would be able to raise money for the Educational Foundation.
“We got underwriters to underwrite all the cost setting this up, so at this point, we’re going to try to raise four or five thousand dollars,” said Anderson. “[Last year] we made a donation for $2,500,” he continued proudly.
So if you missed the delicious food or are upset you did not take a shot at any of the signed Cowboys memorabilia at auction, rest assured that these energetic doctors and their staff will definitely be doing it again next year, and it will probably be bigger and wilder than ever before.
