His ride to recovery

This Saturday, November 18, approximately 100 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to convene at Coweta Custom Cycles in Newnan, Ga. for a 30 mile bike ride to benefit the family of a local resident.

On August 29, 2006, 40 year old Todd Thornton, a long time resident of both Fayette and Coweta counties and a father of two children ages 13 and 9, was involved in a critical accident while riding his motorcycle.

The harrowing accident put him in the hospital for months and caused him to lose both of his legs. Although Thornton has recently been able to go home with his family, he continues to face a long road to recovery and a growing list of expenses as a result of his injuries.

Jeff Haugen has never met Todd Thornton, but works with Todd’s sister. After hearing about Todd’s tragic accident, Haugen, a long time biker, felt the need to lend a helping hand to the Thornton family. He did so by organizing the event scheduled for Saturday.

Haugen said he expects about 150 to 160 people in attendance at the event, which will begin at Coweta Custom Cycles and end at Hooter’s restaurant in Newnan.

“I can’t thank people enough for all the support they have offered,” Haugen expressed. “People who don’t know me or Todd or his family or anything about any of us have come out of the woodwork to help out.”

Recently an 82 year old woman called Haugen to tell him that she had heard about the event and wanted to help out, he said. The woman had been sick and unable to attend her regular church service, and although she lives on a fixed income, she said she was going to write a check for the amount she would have tithed at church and mail it to Haugen for Todd’s recovery fund. It is people like that who are making Saturday’s event one to remember.

Registration will begin Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Coweta Custom Cycles on Ga. Highway 34 in Newnan and will continue until 11 a.m. The cost for registration is $20 per bike and $5 per passenger. The first 50 riders to register will receive a race day T-shirt.

At 11:30 a.m. the riders will set out on a 30 mile course around Coweta County with a police escort in tow. During the ride a pit stop will be made at Jere’s Cycle Craft where refreshments will be provided. The ride will then continue on until reaching the final destination at Hooter’s restaurant on Hwy. 34 in Newnan where food, drinks and entertainment will be on hand. The riders are expected to arrive at the restaurant between 1 and 1:30 p.m.

Raffle tickets will be sold at Coweta Custom Cycles and Jere’s Cycle Craft, as well as at Hooter’s for a short time, for $1 each on the day of the event. The drawing will be held at Hooter’s and will feature many great door prizes. Gift certificates for clothing, restaurants and just about anything else you could want will be awarded, said Haugen.

Thornton is expected to be in attendance at the event.
All proceeds from the ride will go directly to Todd Thornton to aid him in his recovery and ongoing after care.

If you would like to make a donation or for more information on the event, please contact Jeff Haugen at 678-878-9142. Donations can also be made at any local Wachovia Bank with attention to the Todd Thornton Assistance Fund.

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