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The 2005 Harley Screaming Eagle Fatboy that is being donated for the New Hope Center’s Annual Fundraiser by Kimberly Fasken started out as a Gift of Love.
“My husband Andy surprised me with this bike on Valentine’s Day 2005. We had ridden our motorcycles out to eat. Andy had taken his Harley; I had ridden my Yamaha. After we ate, we left the restaurant and stepped onto the parking lot, and my Yamaha was not there! I was taking mental notes about where I had parked my bike. It had been next to Andy’s. But there was a bike there, next to Andy’s, where mine had been. There was a moment of confusion. I looked closer.
Next to Andy’s bike, where my Yamaha had been, was this beautiful Screaming Eagle Harley-Davidson, the most beautiful motorcycle I had ever seen – bright red, for Valentine’s Day!
We had looked at it before at the Harley store. Every time we went in, it caught our eyes. Andy and I both thought it was such a beautiful bike, the prettiest one we had ever seen. We loved it. But I had decided against buying it. I had been in two major accidents already and didn’t ride as much as I used to. I eventually talked myself out of it, although I still enjoyed the thought of riding it!
And here it was! My Valentine’s Day present, a gift of love.
I did enjoy riding that bike. We rode to South Padre, rode to the mountains and made some other shorter trips. It was a great motorcycle. I loved it. But life changed directions, and I rode it less and less. It sat in the garage.
One night I literally had a dream about it. I dreamed that I needed to donate it to my favorite charitable organization – the New Hope Center of Paris. The Center, which until recently was the Models of the Maker Women’s Shelter, has been an important part of my life for many years. I was first introduced to the mission about 9 or 10 years ago and thought it was the most amazing place, doing so much good for so many women and children where the need was so great. I had an instant passion for it. I really love it. Andy and I have both served on the Board of Directors for several years.
The ‘epiphany’ was about a year and a half ago. I knew I needed to raffle it off and donate the proceeds to the shelter, and I knew that I would know when the time was right. Now the time is right. With the changes at the Center, the interest being shown in the community for the shelter and for the bike – I know this is what I am supposed to do and when I am supposed to be doing it. I hope it raises a lot of money for the shelter; their need for financial support is critical to their continued service to this community. If the shelter has to close, 35 women and children will have nowhere to go. I hope the raffle is huge. I hope it helps keep the shelter open. The bike that started out as a gift of love still is. “
The raffle tickets will be $20.00 each and are being sold at the following locations:
Paris Honda Yamaha Harley-Davidson 2875 NE Loop 286 Paris, TX
Paris Suzuki Kawasaki 2710 NE Loop 286 Paris, TX
Colortyme 2060 Lamar Avenue Paris, TX
Josh Allen Josh is the Managing Editor of www.eParisExtra.com. If you have a suggestion or comment about a story or possible story, you may email him at josh@eparistexas.com.
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