Founders' Story

Click here to find out why we started Bikers In Need Foundation.

 

3rd Annual Run and State Fair Parade! August 23, 2008

Following the Parade - DON'T MISS local celebrities Leah McLean, Chikage Windler and Patrick Hammer from 5 Eyewitness News, Moon and Stacy from KS95 and friends of Bikers In Need as they strut their stuff during the Motor Clothes Fashion show - presented by St Paul Harley Davidson. The show can be seen on the Bikers In Need stage in front of Heritage Square.

 

Founders Story

Hi, I'm Dave Dahl. You might know me as the Chief Meteorologist on 5 Eyewitness News in the Twin Cities. I've had a few brushes with death in my life....

including getting nearly run over by a tornado on one of my tornado chases, as well as nearly dying from carbon monoxide poisoning. On August 23rd, 2005, it happened again when I was involved in an accident on my motorcycle. While traveling east on highway 36 in Roseville around rush hour, I looked in my rear view mirror for a second, which turned out to be a second too long. When I looked forward again, all I could see were brake lights! I locked up my brakes and went down before I knew what was happening. As I was sliding along the highway, all I could think about was holding my head up, hoping I wouldn't get run over by a truck, and wishing I'd stop soon! On the days that followed I became aware of how fortunate I was to have wonderful people around me for support, the right kind of insurance to handle increasingly large medical costs, and an understanding employer to allow me to heal before going back to work.

My wife Julie is my greatest supporter! She lifted my spirits and gave me some tender loving care that I couldn't get anywhere else! Our friends, Dave and Lisa Altendorfer showed up on our doorstep the day after the accident to offer their support. After showing off my road rash and broken bones, we started to think about those bikers that have gone down in similar or even more serious crashes. We wanted to figure out a way for us to help bikers who don't have anywhere else to turn.

That's how Bikers In Need Foundation was born! It's a way for us all to help out by supporting awareness through education. Through our foundation we hope to:

• Provide safety information.
• Help bikers become aware of different insurance coverage options.
• Provide grants for those in need.

With your support our foundation will make a difference in many bikers' lives!