Warrior Cruise raises funds for local veteran
Tiffany Sukola | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 2 months AGO
MOSES LAKE - Dozens of drivers took their motorcycles, trucks and classic cars to the streets of Moses Lake Saturday evening to help raise money for an area veteran.
About 50 vehicles were in this year's Warrior Cruise, which went from McCosh Park to Blue Heron Park, Theresa Harrington, one of the event's organizers, said. Proceeds from the event, which also included a barbecue and a car show, will pay to retrofit Moses Lake resident David Adamson's bathroom with a barrier-free shower, she said.
Adamson, a 1965 Moses Lake High School graduate, shattered his right knee while serving in the Air Force. He's had numerous surgeries on it over the years - the most recent of which took place earlier this year.
He said his knee is doing much better since the last surgery, but moving around at home is still inconvenient.
"My bathroom is pretty small right now," said Adamson. "It'll be a lot easier to get in and out with the new shower."
Harrington and her husband Ward operate Best Bath Systems in Moses Lake. They got the idea for the Warrior Cruise about a year ago during a casual conversation with friend Noland Dominguez at their children's baseball game, she said.
"We were just chatting about cruising, because that's what Noland is into and it just went from there," Harrington said. "My husband does work with veterans a lot with the showers and we've always wanted to help them in some way and so the three of us found a way to mesh what we knew into a way to help."
She said they hope to do the Warrior Cruise each year and have the proceeds go to a different veteran each time.
Dominguez said he was surprised, yet humbled, at Saturday's turnout.
"This was our first Warrior Cruise, I was nervous that no one would show up," he said. "But the support we received is just tremendous."
Dominguez said it was nice to see so many people want to help a local veteran. Harrington said she agreed, adding that many groups and businesses pitched in to help make the Warrior Cruise happen as well.
"This was a huge collaboration," she said.
The American Legion helped connect them with Adamson, for example. They were also able to purchase the shower at cost, and Pope's Plumbing is donating all of the plumbing work.
Moses Lake businesses Reddy Ice and Love Me Espresso also donated supplies for the barbecue, she said.
"Every person here, and every person who helped us, is helping change a vet's life," said Harrington. "This is the most amazing thing, it's humbling to say the least."
ARTICLES BY HERALD STAFF WRITER
Bird removal helps fish in Wanapum pool
EPHRATA - A project to move Caspian terns off an island at the Potholes is paying dividends in steelhead survival around Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams.
Quarter of county residents burdened by housing costs
OLYMPIA - About 25 percent of households in Grant County are paying more than they can reasonably afford to for housing expenses, according to recent data from the state Affordable Housing Advisory Board.
EDC lunch to highlight Latino business contributions
Effect of Latino-owned businesses on economy to be discussed
MOSES LAKE- The economic contributions of Latino-ran businesses in the state will be the topic of the Grant County Economic Development Council's next luncheon in January.