Grab a leather jacket, a helmet, clean off the motorcycle and gear up for the Riding for Hope Bike Run fundraiser on April 22.

April is Autism Awareness Month and this fundraiser will spread awareness on the subject and support a good cause.

This event is not just for motorcyclists, because the community can come out and enjoy it. Those interested in riding can register the day of the event from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The fee is $20 for riders and $10 for passengers.

This is the Jarred Bryan Sparks Foundation’s annual fundraiser that assists with funding for The School of Hope, a private school for autistic children.
Salina Medlin, a teacher’s assistant at The School of Hope, is also on the Jarred Bryan Sparks Foundation. She thought of the motorcycle run in 2020.

According to Medlin, the foundation has helped raise $40,000 for the school over the years.

This year's Bike Run will help raise money for The School of Hope expansion. Right now, they are near capacity. Once the modular buildings are up, the school can provide more space for additional students.
The class size is small at the school — 10 students or less to one teacher.

Another reason this fundraiser is important is because when a child is diagnosed with autism, The School of Hope wants to be top of mind when parents seek help.

“As a mother with children with autism, I understand the frustration and fear parents go through. Cumberland County Schools doesn't have the resources needed to provide the one-on-one each [autistic] student needs,” she said. “The School of Hope has smaller classrooms, Applied Behavior Analysis and Registered Behavioral Technicians. This allows us to meet the individual needs of our students.”

Fundraiser History

The inaugural ride was in November 2020. They did not have one in 2021 and got back into action in 2022. This is the third ride.

Because of COVID, the foundation could not have its annual spring festival in 2020. Medlin was thinking of how to fill the void for funding. She thought of a bike run because it hit all the marks — social distancing, riders could bring their own motorcycle, it's outside and folks could wear masks.

Medlin said it was an amazing hit. She said she never had a bike run before and the community came together strong for it.

The motorcycle community — riders and clubs — go around and find communities that might need help fundraising and do the bike runs.
John Larson, Fort Bragg Hog Chapter, led the bike run in 2022. Medlin said he was helpful with leading the run and creating the route.

“It came out well and I couldn’t have done it without the community’s help to spread awareness about autism,” she said.

Larson told Medlin that typically bike rides have an honorary rider. She thought of her son, Julian.
Julian is autistic and has always wanted to have a motorcycle. She knew this was perfect for him to do the ride.

“I thought, ‘This would be a great opportunity for him to get out in the community and socialize with other people and have a great time by riding on the back of John’s bike throughout the ride,’” she said. “It was real good for him.”

Medlin said they are looking for this year’s honorary rider. Medlin says being an honorary rider helps the child socialize and have a good time.

Learn and Have Fun

Those interested in attending the fundraiser may be wondering what to expect.

“We’re always there to help educate parents who have young children with autism. Maybe they’re not sure what direction to go to help their child,” she said.

Other happenings at the event: the foundation will sell T-shirts, have free food and a raffle for a 60-inch smart TV. Each rider that is registered in the ride will get a free raffle ticket. Sponsors of the event get a raffle ticket, too. Additional tickets can be purchased. The raffle tickets go into a jar and at the end of the bike run, a ticket is drawn. The winner can pick up the smart TV from the school the following Monday.

The Riding for Hope Bike Run will start at 3950 Sycamore Dairy Road in Fayetteville.

The School of Hope

Amy and Rob Sparks created The School of Hope for autistic children. Their son Jarred Bryan Sparks lived with autism and died in June 2011 at the age of 19. In 2017, the Sparks started the nonprofit Jarred Bryan Sparks Foundation to spread awareness about autism. The foundation advocates for autistic children and provides financial support for the school. Students with the diagnosis of autism can attend grades K-12.

For more information about the Riding for Hope Bike Run call 910-339-5683.