By Brenda Cannon Henley
Bolivar residents and friends and the many hundreds of bikers Kay Chapman Currier calls her “family” know that when she is working for the kids, you can either get on board or get out of the way ’cause she’s moving on and has things to do. Organizing something this large takes all hands on deck and she has some good ones.

The Fourth Annual ‘Share the Pain’ Children’s Benefit will kick off in high gear on Friday, May 31, and go through Sunday evening, June 2. Headquarters for the event will be the Tiki Beach Bar and Grill on Highway 87 in Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula of Southeast Texas. The fun-filled Meet and Greet will begin at 6:00 pm at Tike and folks will have an opportunity to get to know each other and enjoy the music of the very popular Cross Town Renegades. Kay says they’ll be rocking the beach for sure playing on opening night to get things started right.

Saturday morning, there is a free breakfast for the paid riders followed by the Blessing of the Bikes at 11:00 am. Costs for the ride are $20 per bike and $5 per rider. The group will leave the Tiki Bar at noon and ride the beautiful back roads of Southeast Texas. The group will return to the Tiki for the highlight event of the Battle of the Bands. The attendees will serve double duty as judges in choosing the best sound of the evening. There will also be a live and silent auction with lots of very cool items, a Lotto Hat, raffles, bike and car wash, throws and door prizes. There will be dozens of vendors on site including Tattoo’s by Jamie. There will also be a professional photographer to capture all the action.

Danny Norrid, our local photographer, will serve as our event photo taker. “Simply tell him what photos you want taken, and he’ll be glad to do them,” said Kay. “We have tried to think of every addition to make this event the best one yet and to be certain each guest has a blast and will want to come back year after year.” She added that she and her cohorts, Donna Bass, Kelly “Rough” Diamond, and husband Mark Currier, are giving the event their best shot. “We’ve done lots of benefits over the years, and they’ve been quite successful,” said Kay modestly.

On Sunday, the event will feature a full scale Biker Church and the winning band will play for the group beginning at noon.

A Biker Rally Camp will be set up behind the Tiki Bar for those of you who are interested in camping on site. There will be a shower stall and toilets available in the tent area. (See www.bikerrallycamps.com). Your site will include a queen bed and linens, two chairs, and a lantern for a cost of $45 per night. You must call and reserve these spaces now. We have provided a list of motels/hotels/RV parks/rentals on www.facebook.com/events/432866490101115/. Guests will enjoy seeing our beautiful peninsula, meeting our people, checking out the different restaurants and shops, and relaxing on the fabulous Gulf of Mexico. “We really do have it all,” Kay said.

Kay asked that all bands committed to play during the event to please call and confirm. “You can also text, email, or send a letter,” said the organizer. “By the way, each of our musicians has to be awesome to step up and help out the children like this.” Entry fees should be in no later than May 1. Organizers are equipped to take credit cards as well. “I also need to hear from any additional vendors that want to participate,” said Kay. “Our time is growing shorter and we want to be certain we have every base covered.”

Kay always emphasizes that the event is really for the kids the bikers serve in various ways. “This year, we will be buying toys and bears for the domestic abuse center and a special group of Lego’s for the kids at the burn center. It has been called to my attention that Lego’s can be properly sterilized and sanitized by the hospitals for these kids who normally cannot share toys for fear of infection. We will be cautious to donate age-appropriate toys and Lego’s. We will also be taking gently used toys to the abuse centers. Kids need things, too. When a mother leaves a bad situation, she’s usually in a big hurry and there’s no time to think of gathering toys to take on the journey, and it breaks my heart, so we are providing as many as we can.”

If you ask Kay why she puts in these hard hours, spends her own money (and that of her husband), makes calls and writes emails, enlists her friends, and begs for sponsors, she’ll tell you quickly, that kids are her heart, and it’s a big one. “It never matters how bad my day is going or how badly I feel, when a child smiles at me with a happy face, I just melt inside. I aim to see many more happy faces before my days are through, and thank God, I have been blessed to get others to join me along the way.”

Contact Kay Chapman Currier at (832) 579-4262, [email protected], or by mail at Post Office Box 1464, Crystal Beach, Texas 77650. It’s not too late to donate items for auction, toys for the kids, or door prizes to see that your company is represented with a buying crowd of good people.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at [email protected].