Sixth annual Goodfellas Bike Run kick starts Saturday in Johnston

There are few, if any, motorcycle clubs like the Johnston-based Goodfellas.

Fact: Since 2017 the Goodfellas Bike Run has raised over $60,000 for Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.

Fact: The Goodfellas Motorcycle Club will hold its 6th annual run this Saturday, Sept. 10, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with registration at Steph Harris’ String’s Bar & Grill, 183 George Waterman Road in Johnston, with the hope of surpassing last year’s run that attracted 215 bikes.

Fact: The 6th annual run will continue its tradition and make a short trek into Connecticut starting at 11 o’clock then head back to the Goodfellas Clubhouse at 1 Victory Mount in Johnston for the post-run party that last year featured upwards of 450 attendees who enjoyed fun, food, fellowship and music.

Fact: The 2022 run will be held in memory of seven people who were either spouses, sons and/or deceased family members, mostly of the club’s founding fathers.

Perhaps even more impressive is that for the second time in as many years the Goodfellas Motorcycle Club will have its “Godfather” — a.k.a. benefactor Bruno Ramieri — who has again pledged to match dollar-for-dollar the run takes in up to $20,000.

“This type of generous and unique charitable giving doesn’t happen every day if ever,” said Mr. Goodfella — a.k.a. Cal Calabro. “Because of Bruno’s match last year, we presented Hasbro Children’s Hospital with a check for $41,000 and we’re hoping to exceed that total thanks to Bruno’s love of helping children who are battling cancer.”

Ramieri, who also lives in Johnston, first heard about the Goodfellas work and contacted Calabro and Club President Gene Benedetti and told them how impressed he was with their extraordinary efforts and that he has done similar work with Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Thus, the Goodfellas and Ramieri, who is steeped with experience in the stocks and financial world, formed what many people concur may be the most unique partnership of charitable giving in all of Rhode Island.

“My late son (Anthony Edward Calabro) is looking down and smiling,” Cal Calabro offered, his voice cracking with emotion. “Anthony is one seven people that we are remembering and honoring with this year’s run.”

Likewise, the “In Memory Of” part of the colorful promotional poster also includes Pauline Ramieri, wife of Bruno Ramieri; Freddy Benedetti III, nephew of founding member/president Gene Benedetti; Sueann Demetropoulos, wife of founding member Nick Demetropoulos; Paul Jorge Roque, relative of founding members Mario and Joe Silva; Tim Davvy, brother-in- law of founding member Fred Odell; and Nicholas Paul DeStefano, son of Anna and Steve DeStefano, who Calabro wanted it known “have supported our bike run since 2017.”