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Ely Minnesota - MS Sufferer Gets On the last weekend in June, Jim Hogan, a popular retired teacher who has suffered from multiple sclerosis for almost 30 years, will see his fondest wish come true for the eleventh year in a row. In 1998, the 67-year-old Hogan was interviewed during a WELY radio (Ely, Minnesota) program and mentioned that he had always wanted to ride in the sidecar of a Harley-Davidson. Soon after, the station manager met the founders of the Wolf's Head Motorcycle Tour & Rally, four friends who had formed a company called Lake Basin Promotion, Inc. to create Wolf's Head. The manager asked the promoters if they could perhaps make Hogan's wish come true, and the Jim Hogan Fun Run was born.
Since then, the Jim Hogan Run has become known for providing rides to other sufferers of MS. Sidecars and trikes are perfect for those with disabilities, offering the fun and freedom of the ride, as well as stability and security, without requiring the skills and coordination needed to pilot a motorcycle. This year, the twelfth annual Jim Hogan Run is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, and more motorcycles than ever are expected. Riders will leave the Cloquet, Minnesota, Gordy's Hi-Hat Drive Inn on Hwy 33 at 9:00 a.m. (rain or shine) and stop for lunch and fuel on the way to Ely. Mr. Hogan will enjoy his ride early Saturday afternoon; it will cover several miles, followed by rides for other MS sufferers. Afterward, participants who wish will set up camp at Semers' Campground in Ely for free camping and an evening meal covered by the registration fee of $25 ($15 additional per passenger is also requested). The money collected will be presented to the Ely Lion's Club who will administer distribution. All the money collected in past years has been donated to MS victims in Ely. The small town of Ely, Minnesota, is known among outdoor recreationists as the gateway to the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest. The late Charles Kuralt counted Ely among his favorite destinations; he popularized its "end of the road" location and even purchased the WELY radio station. This town on the edge of the wilderness is also known for charming shops and outfitter stores, the nearby International Wolf Center, rustic lakeside lodges, and friendly people who give of their time and energy to support the Jim Hogan Run. Lake Basin Promotion's twelfth annual Wolf's Head Motorcycle Tour & Rally is set for July 13-19, 2009 at Two Harbors, Minnesota, and includes a 1,500-mile tour around Lake Superior, plus bike games, smoke show, guided day rides, light parade, vendors, and live music. |
Lake
Basin found a Harley with a sidecar, owned by Les and Margaret
Clemens, and Hogan got his wished-for trip. The bike -- piloted by Les
Clemens and carrying a beaming Hogan wearing a Harley-Davidson cap and
bandanna -- was accompanied by an entourage of bikes on a day of
perfect weather, big smiles, and the satisfaction of making a wish
come true.