Dear Family and Friends,
As you may already know on June 3, 2006 we held the first Lt. Bob Cabral Memorial Motorcycle Run. Even though it rained right up to the start of the ride, we still continued as planned. All riders and their passengers that left Case High School at around 11:30 am on their journey, returned to the Knights of Columbus safely. That alone makes this a successful event.
Once Father Gendreau blessed the bikes and their riders, they began their journey with a police escort by Sgt. Greg Ryan and Deputy Chief Bob Furtado of the Swansea Police Department. The riders stopped along the way at Mount Hope Cemetery and the Accident Scene for the placement of flowers arranged by Carl Sasso and donated Reynolds Florist, they continued into Rehoboth, where they were met by Off. Brian Thibideau and Off. Nicole Eastwood of the Rehoboth Police Department, to assist in keeping our riders safe.
The riders then came back to Swansea and finished at the Knights of Columbus where Gary Simon and his staff from Simply Simons put on a BBQ meal for all to enjoy. There were vendors at the K of C and we raffled off numerous prizes donated from area businesses, ranging from sunglasses to a $600 Lojack unit for a motorcycle. About 25 volunteers turned out to help put this event on, from adults to current students, who knew Bob as a fellow student, teacher, coach, friend and mentor.
I would like to take this time to personally thank everyone who helped with his or her time and effort. If I start to single people out I know I will forget someone. A lot of time and effort goes into putting together an event like this and there are a few people who I need to thank. To the family, Mitch and Alec I know this has been a difficult time for you both, with all that has happened, thank you for allowing me to put this run together. Bob’s siblings, Jo, Tommy and Sue, thank you for all your support. Don Dupre and his family, staff, and customers at Thrill City Cycle in Swansea, without your help, guidance and dedication I would have never gotten the run off the ground thank you. The Swansea and Rehoboth police Officers mentioned above as well as Chief George Arruda and Lt. Bruce Dube along with Pat McKenna and Northeast Traffic who all helped to keep the riders safe in such bad weather. My family and friends from Swansea and Cape Cod who all came out in the elements to help and put up with me during the planning stages. Nancy McKenna thanks for dealing with so much I threw at you with tickets and pictures and everything. Joe Foley and Nancy Ferreira with their help getting the word out and gathering gifts for the raffle along with all the businesses and people who donated to the raffle. The Swansea School Department for the use of the high school lots and the Swansea Knights of Columbus for donating the use of their facility. 3M Embroidery for printing the t-shirts and Swan Color Lab for donating their time in helping with the design for the t-shirts. I am sorry if anyone was overlooked, your help and effort was certainly appreciated.
Thank you all for everything. See you next year.
Gratefully,
Larry Machado Jr.
