Sickness and tragedy come knocking all too often. No one knows the life interruption that falls in the wake for so many as they work to process, understand, grieve, and continue to move forward, when someone close is the victim of such.
In the summer of 2013 the Grimes family, my family, learned first-hand about these storm elements when Jerry, my father, became ill and was not getting any better. A year later, he was gone. The loss was one thing. The fact that for so long no one knew what was taking Jerry so far away was even harder. The best of the best hospitals and doctors were at a loss and in the end a guess was the seed that left us knowing the demon that had invaded our lives. Neuro Sarcoidosis.
My father Jerry had worked for many years in sales with Fun Products, Inc. in Goldsboro NC. During the year battle with Sarcoidosis my brother Troy, and I, decided to hold a Poker Run Benefit in Daddy’s honor. Tons of biker family turned out in our support. After Daddy’s death, Troy and I decided we had to move forward, not only remembering Jerry, but making others aware of this demon we had never known anything about before it came knocking.
Sarcoidosis has no cure. Treatments are limited. It is an inflammatory disease that can attack any organ. It can take to remission at any time and then flare back up with a vengeance. It can steal the life right out of you.
The June JAMR was born early in 2015. The Inaugural ride came on the second Saturday in June 2015. Early 2016 brought 501 3-C non-profit incorporation and a board of directors. A website was established. The June JAMR came to life in social media and plans for the second annual June JAMR began to grow.
Always on the second Saturday, this year on June 11, 2016 my brother and I, along with many added sponsors, as well as past riders and new JAMR family members, saddled up for sarcoidosis and came together to raise awareness and remember Jerry Grimes. Ray Price Harley-Davidson of Raleigh, NC sponsored our registration event and the stops on the ride included a memorial stop at Devotional Gardens of Dunn NC, where daddy is laid to rest, a fabulous BBQ and Fried Chicken lunch with multiple door prizes awarded from our various sponsors at Ron’s Barn of Coats, NC, a pit stop at Jerry’s work place with our Goldsboro, NC Fun Products family, and a finale at Cyclemax of Wilson, NC.
In total there were 62 riders and more than 30 volunteers who participated in the day-long event that covered over 135 miles, which was widely covered with multiple county law enforcement escorts. It was HOT, but the ride and comradery could not be beat and was worth every ounce of sweat as we traveled from county to county…the counties that daddy traveled most, no doubt, on his 1999 Honda Valkyrie, that I now proudly ride.
The ride was a huge success. Fundraising, however, is not over. August 25, 2016 the JAMR team will deliver BBQ plates to Goldsboro, NC local area businesses to supplement proceeds. Proceeds will be divided between The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, Faith Church of Goldsboro, and various other local charities.
Plans are already underway for the 3rd Annual June JAMR, the second Saturday of June – June 10, 2017 – so mark your calendars and request your time off. You don’t want to miss this event of the year!!! You can learn more about Jerry, his story, sarcoidosis, and The June JAMR and what we do at www.thejunejamr.org and you can learn more about sarcoidosis at The Foundation for Sarcoidosis (FSR) www.stopsarcoidosis.org . To become part of the JAMR family and be included in our email updates, please feel free to email me at thejunejamr@gmail.com.
Many thanks to every rider, every volunteer throughout the year, the escort assist from NC law enforcement over five counties, every donation, and every sponsor – both big and small. A special thanks as well to The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research for supporting us with our efforts.
Be well and ride safe my friends! ~ Tracy Grimes, Executive Director of The June JAMR
Join the fight for a cure! Learn about upcoming events and how you can host your own event to raise awareness and much needed funds for sarcoidosis research!
Photo credits, Kris Weiss and April Rosequist (Ray Price Harley-Davidson), Moe aka Melynda Snead (Behind Barz Magazine), and Julie Wallace Turner.