Bikers bearing blankets

Smooth oldies and ‘90s slow jams echoed off the brick walls of Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale on Sunday morning.

Yet again, more than 70 bike club members gathered to ride their motorcycles for a good cause.

The seventh annual Blanket Run, presented by the Blazers and the Buffalo Soldiers motorcycle clubs, had begun.

The Blanket Run is a Pasadena-focused charity ride where club members and other bikers are welcome to bring cash donations and/or blankets for charity. This year, the Blanket Run benefits the American Legion, Post 280, of Pasadena, and Pasadena homeless shelters.

“We carry on a legacy with this run,” said Cathy “Cat” Mabry, president of the four-person motorcycle club, The Blazers.

She and late Buffalo Soldiers president Yvonne “Isis” Palmer came up with the idea for the blanket run charity event, but Palmer did not live to see her idea come to fruition.

So now, the Blanket Run is held annually in her memory and to benefit several Pasadena nonprofits.

“We spread the warmth of the blankets in the community,” she said.

Bikers stood in the streets and on the sidewalks of San Fernando Road, drinking coffee, smiling, laughing, embracing and looking over each other’s bikes.

Boxes of blankets sat to the side on the building and Mabry gave one out right there to a homeless man passing through.

“We’re just a small club but we love to do charity,” Mabry said. “The Blanket Run is our heart. Along with the Buffalo Soldiers, there’s nothing we can’t do.”

The Buffalo Soldiers take their name from the black soldiers who served in the U.S. Army in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

They ride in their honor under their names as a tribute and memorial, said Deryk “Smoot” Howard, president of the Buffalo Soldiers.

“They rode real horses so we ride steel horses,” Howard said.

Many members of the Buffalo Soldiers happen to be black bike riders because of the clubs affiliations with the black regiments during those years, he said, but there is no boundary on race in their ranks.

“We’re just like sisters and brothers in the club,” Mabry said.

Other clubs included a cluster of religious bikers and a club called “The Black Hawks.”

Bikes of all shapes, sizes and different colors were represented and lined the street in front of the Harley showroom as bikers flowed in and out of the Glendale’s own chrome and leather sanctum.

“In Pasadena we usually would go to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles to start, but it wasn’t a good run from there to the park,” Mabry said.

So Oliver Shokouh, owner of Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale, offered the street space and opened the doors of his showroom to the bike clubs as a starting point for their Blanket Run.

There were free Krispy Kreme doughnuts and coffee available as people made $25 donations, dropped off blankets and bought raffle tickets.

A little after 10:30 a.m., they said a group prayer and headed out in a caravan to Pasadena Central Park for a raffle drawing, live music by the 3220 Band, fried chicken and crisp weather on the grass.

“It’s a great ride from Glendale to Pasadena,” Mabry said.

“We think Isis would be proud,” Howard said.

“I know, she’s on my shoulder,” Mabry said and reached her hands to her neck. “She’s always on my shoulder.”

The next charitable ride from Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale will be the 19th annual L.A. Toy Ride on Dec. 10.

Riders will donate and later hand out toys to homeless children at the Fred Jordan Mission in Los Angeles.