Heard of snakes on a plane? Well, get ready for H.O.G.s on a ship.
If you’re unfamiliar with the acronym H.O.G., please understand that I’m not talking about “oink, oink” pigs. And, I’m certainly not speaking Pig Latin. That would be O.G.H.ay … oinkway, oinkway igspay.
In any case, H.O.G., or Harley Owners Group, is a very elite, membership-only club for motorcycle riders who, duh, own a Harley. Of course, the High Seas Rally event I’m writing about here not only has H.O.G. members attending its 2014 cruise, but also riders who own Hondas, or Triumphs, or Kawasakis, or any other two- or three-wheel motorized vehicles like Yamahahas (no offense Yamaha owners; I couldn’t resist).
This November 4th, High Seas Rally is sailing out of Port Canaveral on Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas for a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. So what, ouyay aysay?
Well, this hugely popular rally has 16 cruises under its belt. And, while it’s about like-minded motorcycle enthusiasts and high-end vendors gathering to have a great time and sharing a lot of camaraderie, it’s more about giving back.
You see, the group’s co-founders Dean and Debbie Anderson of West Virginia, started the World’s Only Rally on a Cruise Ship more than 11 years ago. You can read about the whys on the High Seas Rally website.
Because the Andersons believed that the High Seas Rally was an experience of a lifetime, it morphed into a charity event that raises big bucks ($1.8 million so far) for bikers, or immediate family members or friends, who suffer from kidney failure, to cruise with the group … for free.
Now, here at Go Port, we think that’s a miraculous thing seeing how it’s not easy for patients in kidney failure while on dialysis to travel farther than the nearest medical center or hospital for treatment. And since many patients with this condition never recover, the High Seas Rally truly is an experience of a lifetime.
The deal is that donations for Debbie’s HOHS Dialysis Fund via High Seas Rally pay for patients’ and caregivers’ expenses, including costs of getting the dialysis machines on board, medical staff, airfare, hotel costs, and on top of it all, spending money for the patients to use on board.
So, this November, if you see an influx of people walking around in leather, shake off the prejudices and misconceptions you might have about bikers. Greet them warmly, shake their hands, and for safety sake, watch out for motorcyclists on the road while you’re driving.
These people are here to support a great cause.
Anksthay, Ighhay Eassay Allyray! or in plain English …
Thanks, High Seas Rally!
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