A group of BACA members out of Las Vegas ride start off down Pioneer Blvd. on their way to the first poker stop at Fire Station #3 during the tenth annual rally on Oct. 15. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

A group of BACA members out of Las Vegas ride start off down Pioneer Blvd. on their way to the first poker stop at Fire Station #3 during the tenth annual rally on Oct. 15. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

On Saturday, Oct. 15 members of the St. George Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) held their 10th annual rally in the Mesquite area.

The rally/poker run was set to begin at 9 a.m. with the first stop at the Mesquite Fire Station #3 for an Open House and pancake breakfast. The poker run took them to Overton, through the Valley of Fire and Moapa eventually ending up back in Mesquite.

A full schedule of activities was set for the entire day with music, t-shirt sales, and a raffle for a brand new Harley Davidson among other things.

The rally has been held since 2009 by retired Mohave County Sheriff Mike (Beezer) Hoggard who works closely with the Valley of Fire travel center and the Mesquite Fire Department. The Valley of Fire allows BACA members to travel through the park for free and the travel plaza itself is one of the poker run stops.

A group of BACA members out of Las Vegas make their way to the first poker stop and pancake breakfast at Fire Station #3 during the tenth annual rally on Oct. 15. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

A group of BACA members out of Las Vegas make their way to the first poker stop and pancake breakfast at Fire Station #3 during the tenth annual rally on Oct. 15. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

The Mesquite Fire Department provides each of the poker run members a pancake breakfast during their first stop of the run and the BACA members in turn donate $3 a meal to the Fire Department allowing the firefighters to raise a bit of funds while giving the bikers a hearty start to a great ride.

Approximately 100 bikers from Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California show up each year for this event.

According to their web site, BACA exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. They exist as a body of bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. They stand ready to lend support to their wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. BACA works in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. They desire to send a clear message to all involved with the abused child that this child is part of their organization, and that they are prepared to lend their physical and emotional support to them by affiliation and physical presence. They stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse. BACA does not condone the use of violence or physical force in any manner, however, if circumstances arise such that they are the only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, they stand ready to be that obstacle.

For more information on BACA contact them at International Information Helpline Number 1-866-71-ABUSE.