Alabama Legion Riders raise $21,000

Every year, American Legion Riders Chapter 107 in Leeds, Ala., hits the road to raise money for Camp Smile-a-Mile (Camp "Sam"), Alabama’s facility for children with cancer. Last year, the Riders donated nearly $10,000, and now they’ve more than doubled that amount with a final tally of $21,295. Combined with other donations, the camp received $30,000.

"We left Barber Motorsports Park with a full police escort by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and rode down to Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin," said Jamie Levan, Chapter 107’s treasurer. She said the Riders were greeted by 80 "screaming, cheering children."

Although the Riders were soaked from rain, that didn’t stop the kids from "grabbing, hugging and claiming a lunch buddy," Levan said.

After the Riders presented a donation check to the camp, the children expressed their thanks to the group.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the place, Levan said. "One girl said, ‘I am thankful that I’m not bald anymore.’ Then she took her hat off and said, ‘Man, look at all this hair!’ I could go on and on about Camp Sam and never fully explain the range of emotions that you feel."