The United Motorcycle Club International rolls into Havre

The United Motorcycle Club International rode more than 250 miles in their annual run, raising money for the Montana Hope Project Saturday.

The chapter from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, ran a Shake, Rattle and Roll Dice Run to raise money for the Montana Hope Project.

Chapter President and Representative Daniel Magee said Havre Eagle Riders Club hosted a dinner after the ride.

"We really enjoy coming down here," Magee said. "We like the people; everybody is a lot like us."

United Motorcycle Club International is an international riding organization with most of the members from the western part of the United States and Canada, he said, adding that the club is a nondenominational bike club, so anybody can ride with them.

"It has to do more with the people rather than what your riding," Magee said.

He added that the chapter in Medicine Hat has a more than 40 members, with 15 motorcycles and 30 members in attendance at the event.

"Freedom, friendship, food and fun is our only business," Magee said, quoting the clubs moto.

They have all been coming to Havre since they were kids, Magee said, adding that they see Havre as a sister city and, like good neighbors, want to involve the Eagle Riders Club to expand the event.

He said the Medicine Hat chapter has been doing this run for the past 14 years but in the last four years they have decided to do a dice run for a local charity. With many of the members of the chapter former police officers and veterans who are also involved with the Blue Knights, a police force riders club, the Montana Highway Patrol's Montana Hope Project was a good choice, he said.

Montana Hope Project grants wishes to critically ill Montana children.

Magee added that more than 90 cents on each dollar collected for the event will go to the charity.

The dice run's high roller was Ken Forbes and the low roller was Matt Poultney, Magee said. He added that after the dinner, the club chapter would also be visiting a few of the local bars.

Eagle Riders Club had a 50/50 raffle Friday and Saturday for the United Motorcycle Club International chapter, as well as providing dinner for the chapter Saturday.

Eagle Riders Chapter President Heather Sinclair said Magee had contacted her about the dinner and the Eagle Riders were happy to help, adding that seeing them was like a family reunion.

She said it was great to see two riding associations come together and do something for others and fantastic to see the riders from Medicine Hat again.

"We're like brothers and sisters," Sinclair said."I would like to thank Daniel and the Canadians for reaching out to us. That was pretty special, knowing that they could count on us."

She said the Eagle Riders are always happy to support those that do charity fundraisers, and she hopes more riders and associations come to Havre and contact them in the future.

Magee said the international club is also hosting its 32nd annual toy run next weekend, Sept. 9, for the Medicine Hat Santa Claus Fund. More than 1,000 bikes participated in the Medicine Hat run last year, Magee said, and more than $40,000 worth of food, toys and cash were collected.

He added that it is one of the largest toy runs in western Canada and all riders are welcome.

The event will also be followed by a barbecue and beer garden, along with a bouncy castle and games for kids, he added, with all money and toys going to local children through the Santa Claus Fund.

Sinclair said she hopes that they can show support for the Medicine Hat toy run and get together. She added that she is happy that the two clubs have a lasting relationship and that the Eagle Riders would like to continue helping as much as possible.

Magee said the organization does many events like this throughout the year and people should always feel welcome to come and participate.

"We do more bakeries than beer," he said.

Magee added that the organization travels all over Montana and would like to start coming to the Eagle Riders annual poker run in May for support of Montana Wounded Warriors.

Eagle Riders will also be having a small overnight poker run in September, Sinclair said, with five stops to raise money for children in need.

The Medicine Hat United Motorcycle Club International Chapter and the Havre Eagle Riders Club are considering doing more events together in the future, Magee said.

"The Eagle Riders support those that do charity," Sinclair said, "just people helping people."

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For more information about United Motorcycle Club International's Medicine Hat chapter go to its website at http://www.umcimh.ca/.