The rumble of motorcycle engines in the distance sent men, women and children scrambling for their posters, and jockeying for a position along the road in anticipation of the motorcycles.
Southmountain Family and Children Services served as the Saturday afternoon host to the third annual Trinity Children Charity Ride.
Approximately 50 motorcyclists honked and waved as they drove by the cheering crowd. The motorcyclists were making their penultimate stop on a ride across the state to support N.C. child care and child abuse prevention programs.
Southmountain Executive Director Chris Jernigan said this year marks the first time the ride has stopped at the children's home.
"This is an absolute blessing to us," Jernigan said.
Jernigan, who is a motorcyclist in the ride, said the riders were having a great time and the weather has cooperated nicely.
The riders mingled with the foster children and parents as the entire group ate lunch outside.
Doris Eakes, founder and president of Trinity Children Foundation, said the charity ride choose four children's homes to raise funds for this year: Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina, The Carousel Center, The Children's Home and Southmountain. In 2007, the ride raised $72,000 for the four homes selected.
Ticket sales from a raffle for a 2008 Honda Gold Wing and donations will go to the four homes, Eakes said.
The founder said she was inspired by a Toys for Tots charity ride that she saw in December 2005 as she left church in Wilmington.
The charity ride began on Wednesday at Kure Beach and after visiting Morganton, the ride ended Saturday night in Maggie Valley.
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