Suburban motorcycle run benefits child welfare agency

Roughly 100 suburban motorcyclists participated in Saturday's Shelter A Child Motorcycle Run that kicked off at around 10 a.m. from the Palatine City Limits Harley Davidson.

A convoy of more than a dozen bikers headed to Wauconda to meet up with other Harley riders. The group then rode together through Northern Illinois before finishing at J.J. Twigs for a post ride celebration at 1 p.m.

The event benefits Shelter Inc., an Arlington Heights-based nonprofit child welfare agency providing emergency and long-term care and housing for abused and neglected children and adolescents in the Northwest suburbs.

Shelter Inc. runs three groups homes - two in Palatine for boys and a home for girls in Schaumburg - and a foster care program, said agency spokeswoman Bobbi Baehne.

Baehne said this is the first year for the event aimed at expanding the agency's donor base and bringing on new supporters.

"We rely a lot on individual contributors," Baehne said. "With the economy the way it is, fundraising is becoming more difficult. Harley riders come from all walks of life. It's just a different audience. It's one of the most supportive and caring groups of people."