Special Olympics Motorcycle Run races to victory

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Although the threat of rain kept the numbers down, Saturday’s 18th Annual Special Olympics Motorcycle Run was an overwhelming success.

“We grossed $17,000 in just one day,” Phil Viens, the former Johnston Police patrolman who founded the fundraising event back in 1999, said. “Lots of people weren’t sure what the weather was going to be, but 17 grand, I’ll take it!”

Viens estimated that more than 500 motorcyclists showed up for the pre-run party at Grieco Collision on Putnam Pike in Johnston that was filled with music from the Runnin’ Wild Band and Pop Up Parties disc jockey Dave Mollicone.

“The bikers and their riders really, really liked our new shirts,” Viens said of the official long-sleeve shirts that the SORI organizing committee gave to each person that paid the $30 registration fee, which also included an all-you-can-eat pre-run cookout that featured charcoal grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and those famous pizza chips from The Original Italian Bakery.

In the middle of all the pre-run goings-on was a special ceremony during which Viens, assisted by host Tom Rotondo, the general manager at Grieco Collision, paid a special tribute to Special Olympian Stephen Eddie.

“Just look at that gold medal!” Viens exclaimed, as Eddie stood by his parents, Don and Renee Eddie, and dozens of motorcyclists who applauded the Special Olympian for his performance during Friday night’s competition at the annual Summer Games held again at the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston Campus. “This is why we do this run; it’s all to help the countless number of Special Olympic athletes enjoy their annual state competitions.”

Likewise, Kyle Shibley, a Coventry native and eight-year member of the Rhode Island State Police, felt the same way as he again showed up to assist Special Olympic staffers Tracy Garabedian, Robin DeRobbio and Patricia Kirby.

“When you see how the Summer Games puts smiles on the faces of all the Special Olympic athletes, it makes every effort like this Motorcycle Run worth all the effort,” Shibley said. “Everyone here makes it all possible for each and every athlete.”

That’s also the reason people like Jennifer Goldberger, Michelle DiPetrillo, Justine Dutilly, Toni Mallane, Erica Vieria – who brought along her son Anthony – and Ashley Marocco have been staffing the event for a number of years, assisting Views in a number of areas. Moreover, Viens heaped words of praise upon his father-in-law Ralph Russo, who cooked hamburgers and hot dogs on the grills along with Lorenzo Colaluca and Ann Hall during the pre-run party.

Viens, who said he has a long list of thanks yous to send out, also wanted it known that it’s the generosity of “our super sponsors” like Don DePetrillo of The Original Italian Bakery, Scituate Liquors, Grieco Motor Group, Rhode Island Beef and Little Rhody that help make and this motorcycle run special and push the annual donation to Special Olympics Rhode Island to the highest total possible.

“We’ve put another great event in the books,” said Viens, who co-owns Scituate Liquors. “Hopefully the weather will be perfect next year and the end result will be a much larger donation to SORI. Then again, 17-grand in one day…that’s not too shabby.”

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