Auction for Smiles: Build a Chopper

Hi, my name is Ronnie Smith. I want to start this Go Fund Me to build a chopper to be auctioned off for the Going Places charity. This charity was started by a teacher who asked a little boy in her class what he wanted for his birthday. He wanted a bike. In her class, most of the families of her students lived below the poverty level and she knew his family was not going to be able to afford to buy him a bike. So, the teacher took him to pick out a bike and then realized that she wanted to do more. That is when she started a Go Fund Me so that she could do the same for the rest of the kids in the school. I believe it was over 600 kids...and they all got a bike! My wife is a teacher also so supporting this charity is incredibly important to us.

I remember getting bikes for birthdays or Christmas and it was a great feeling. Showing off that bike to friends felt good. We would go to each other’s houses and bikes were all over the yard. Now, as an adult, it is motorcycles that we ride and they line our driveways. Too many kids won't get to experience that feeling and I would like to do something to let them achieve it.

Here is my plan: I want to build a chopper. I have a friend of mine that will do most of the work. I want to raise the funds to purchase the parts, or even a donor bike as the base. We will build a complete chopper, then auction it off and donate the proceeds to Going Places. I will also create a website that I can show the progress of what is happening and let people ask any questions they might have.The money will be kept separately from my personal funds and will only be used to build this chopper. Each May, there is a gala for this charity, so we will need to have the chopper finished by the first of next year. When the weather starts to get warmer and more motorcycles appear out on the roads, the bike will then be auctioned off and the proceeds donated during the May gala. If we have success, it is my desire to build a bike every year for this charity. I am hoping there are enough people out there who just might have a memory of getting that new bike as a kid who would like to donate to this cause. Every kid should experience that feeling during their lifetime and with your help, we hope to accomplish this. Thanks for taking the time to read about my plan and please donate anything you can...it will all add up.