Feel the thunder as the Downed Bikers Association roars in philanthropic action!

Members of the Downed Bikers Association of Oklahoma City gather for a group photo with residents of Oak Hills Care Center

The Downed Bikers Association of Oklahoma City rode as a pack revving engines from their Oklahoma City headquarters to Jones, Oklahoma. Oak Hills Care Center was today's destination mapped out to receive some joy and excitement from a special ride.

Social interaction is a vital part of the day-to-day rehabilitation for long-term residents as it can determine overall morale and continually develop the cognitive processes of the mind. Interaction amongst residents and visitors is a great medium for social interaction, as well as activities. All of these mediums were restricted by barriers implemented as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The event was aimed at bringing joy and happiness to the residents of the long-term care center, many of whom were clinical patients during the quarantine portion of the pandemic. The event was spurred along by a recent decrease in pandemic cases and eventually organized when an appropriate change in the social distancing protocol provided an opportunity to engage in outdoor activities.

Gerald Benedict smiles for a photo on a DBA member's motorcycle.

Oak Hills Care Center Activities Coordinator Bobbi Thomas and her creativity both rejoiced with the increased potential of new activities. Bobbi thought pandemic protocol liberation could meet the liberating feeling of the sun on your face on the back of a motorcycle, so she teamed up with LPN Crystal Johnson to do just that. The engines roared to life as over thirty DBA members revved up their engines, each one more impressive than the last, in true parade fashion. The engine sounds tunneled in loudly as their open road winded its way into the Oak Hills parking lot. LPN Crystal Johnson, a mother to a DBA member, had the forethought to help plan this ride because “The members of DBA are really good with veterans and retired bikers,” Johnson said. “So, I knew they would be great with our residents, seeing as how we have veterans and retired bikers here as well. They love to volunteer, and I knew they would be able to physically assist with helping the residents get on the bikes. The members of DBA are outgoing and very wonderful people."

The Downed Bikers Association had a special purpose in mind: to show the residents of the Oak Hills Care Center that they were not forgotten and that the riders were there to lift their spirits and brighten their day. Their purpose is special because its humanity makes it special, not because it is a rare ideology for the Downed Bikers Association. In fact, humanitarian principles are why the DBA was founded. The Down Bikers Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to raise awareness and help in the acquisition of aid for people who suffer from disabilities involving motorcycle accidents. The DBA is currently six chapters strong, spanning across the state in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Enid, Western Plains of Elk City, Twin Rivers of Vinita, and FootHills of Tahlequah. “Some people have a bad outlook on bikers,” Johnson claims. “A lot of them aren’t like that at all. They’re doctors, nurses, and lawyers, too. They’re just like you and me, good people.”

“They’re just like you and me, good people.”-Crystal Johnson

Two bikers lend a boost to Leonard Wise so he can sit on the bike.

The cheers and applause that the riders were met with from staff and residents never subsided. Everyone involved was thrilled to see the array of precious motorcycles and enjoy the positive energy from their riders.“I was expecting maybe five to ten bikes, but then all of a sudden thirty-plus bikes showed up,” Thomas exclaimed. “We have a lot of residents that were bikers in their younger years, and we felt like letting them see all the bikes and new faces would help them bring back some good times of when they were younger." Every single DBA rider in the caravan took the time to line up with each other shoulder to shoulder to chat and greet the residents. The residents were delighted to have such an exciting, unique, and interactive experience, and the riders were thrilled to see the joy they had brought to their faces. The residents loved their usual story sharing with visitors, but today they also shared clothing items like DBA helmets, hats, and most importantly the colors, cut, or vest, all to be captured by the camera. Activities Coordinator Bobbi Thomas offers closing notes to the evening, "For me, it was my favorite activity that we have had out at Oak Hills. We laughed, we cried, we laughed and cried again, it was amazing.”

Residents, Bikers, and Staff pose for a photo.

The Downed Bikers Association of Oklahoma City is a group of passionate and dedicated riders who use their love of motorcycles to make a positive impact on their community. Their ride to the Oak Hills Care Center is just one example of the many ways they give back to those in need, and their commitment to their cause is truly inspiring and not to mention commendable. Voyage Long Term Care shares these same principles with the Downed Bikers Association and is proud to have worked alongside them closely for this event to happen.

To learn more about DBA of Oklahoma City, you can visit their website at https://natdba.org. To learn more about services offered to residents at Oak Hills Care Center, you can visit their website at https://www.oakhillscarecenter.com.