More than 40 bikes, nearly a dozen cars and even a stunt motorcycle rider arrived at Southwestern Michigan College on Saturday for the fifth annual Ride 4 the Homeless Motorcycle and Car Show.

Event organizer Jeremy Weinrick said that this year’s event was much bigger than last year’s.

“There are about 25 percent more people here this year,” he said. “We’re really doing well.”

The event began at 9 a.m. with registration for the motorcycle ride—an 80-mile ride that started at 11 a.m. from the SMC campus and concluded around 2 p.m. at the same spot. The U.S. Patriots Motorcycle Club led the pack, and radio station WIRX followed. Registration fees were $20 per bike (plus $5 with rider) and $20 entry for the car show.

All proceeds, including those from registration fees, went to the Decatur Family Shelter. Last year, the event netted about $6,000.

“It helps with services for homeless families in the area that otherwise wouldn’t receive service,” Weinrick said.

One of the biggest attractions at the Ride 4 the Homeless was freestyle stunt motorcycle rider Josh Borne.

Borne, an Indiana native, made the trip up to Dowagiac from Atlanta with his wife, P.J. He performed a 20-minute warm up show around 11 a.m., then his main show when the riders returned from the motorcycle ride around 2 p.m.

Borne said that he enjoys performing at the event every year.

“It’s great raising money and awareness for the homeless,” said Borne.

Borne has been riding for about 10 years. Prior to that, he was an engineer at General Motors.

He’s been with his wife for about seven years, and they decided to get married about a year and a half ago.

“Josh had a tax return,” P.J. said. “And he wanted to get something for his truck, but his friends told him he could get more women with a bike.”

So, he went to Detroit, and within a year, he was competing on a national level.

Event organizer Randy Smith was extremely grateful that Borne came to support the event and the cause.

“I was really inspired,” Smith said.

He said that Borne has become a personal friend over the past several years, and that they are both happy to help Weinrick put on the event.

“There were only a couple people here the first year,” Smith said. “We went to Jeremy and said, ‘Let’s start letting this thing grow as big as we can.’”

They did, and this year the event included raffle items, food vendors, live music and a bounce house for kids.

Casual Tees, of Eau Claire, provided T-shirts for the event. All volunteer T-shirts were donated, and T-shirts and hoodies were on sale for $15 and $25, respectively at the event. Half of the revenue will go to the
homeless shelter.

“I need to make sure to say a big thank you to the volunteers,” Weinrick said. “If it wasn’t for them, the event couldn’t happen.”

Event sponsors include Coca-Cola Paw Paw Plant, Berrien County arm Bureau Oil Company, Adams Therapeutic Massage, Bonomo’s Collision Center, Smith’s Indoor Garden Supply, First Presbyterian Church of Decatur, Lyons Industries, the Decatur Republican, Quarter Auction Buddies, Hardings Markets, Village Market Decatur, RT’s Place Tattooing & Body Piercing, Special Lite, First State Bank, South Haven Black River Lions Club, Dowagiac Fire & Rescue and Rock 107 WIRX.

More information can be found at ride4thehomeless.com.