‘Thunder for the Disabled' bike tour to rumble through the county

Sparta — On Saturday, Oct. 1, the 3rd Annual "Thunder for the Disabled" will tour the county on motorcycle, raising funds for the disabled. Andrew Fraser will again chair the committee planning the event, sponsored by the Department for Persons with Disabilities. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 2. "Thunder for the Disabled" is a 60-minute motorcycle run through scenic Sussex County. Registration is from 10-11 a.m. at the Chatterbox Restaurant, at the junction of Routes 206 and 15 in Augusta. The tour commences at 11 a.m. and ends in Oak Ridge. A $30 registration donation is suggested. All proceeds from the motorcycle tour will benefit the Department for Persons with Disabilities, a Catholic Charities Agency of the Diocese of Paterson. The nonprofit agency is responsible for the care and housing of developmentally disabled persons. The department operates 12 group homes, a farm, and a vocational training center in Jefferson Township. Fraser, a partner in the law firm of Laddey Clark and Ryan in Sparta, is a long-time board member of the department. He will be riding his 1999 Yamaha V-Star, and his wife, Lisa, will ride her Honda Rebel. In addition to the motorcycle tour, there will also be an "Abilities Tour" on the same day, which involves a 50, 27, 20 or 12-mile bicycle tour through Jefferson Township and Lake Hopatcong, and a leisurely walking tour also in Jefferson Township. Registration for either program is $45 or $100 per family. All events will be followed by a barbecue, with special attractions. For further information, call Roy De Franco at 973-697-1230.