Classy Lassies trade in their helmets for tea hats!
by Curtis Riggs
Sonoran News
April 12, 2006 - English Rose Tea Room owner Jo Gemmil
got lady motorcyclists to wear her fancy tea hats for a
good cause last week.
Gemmil hosted a Classy Lassies afternoon tea
for 50 ladies who rode to raise money for the
Arizona Institute for Breast Health on April 6.
Riders with the local Women in the Wind Club and
the Gypsy Riders came to Carefree to benefit their
favorite charity. A few lady riders who found
out about the fundraiser on the Internet also
rode to Carefree because of where the money was
being directed.
The lady riders have already raised
considerable sums of money for breast cancer
research. Over $10,000 was raised at the
Bikers Ball held last fall. They are now
raffling off a motorcycle
worth $15,000 to benefit the institute.
Debbie Outman of Apache Junction is no
stranger to riding in the Desert Foothills.
She said she enjoyed last week's ride even more
because of the charity it benefited.
"We always love coming up here because it is
such beautiful country," she said.
Gemmil's afternoon tea was held during the Arizona
Bike Week festivities that bring thousands of riders
to Cave Creek and Carefree every year. She, however,
had another reason for hosting the tea. She did
it in honor of her mother-in-law who died from breast cancer.
Another reason for offering the lunch, which included tea
sandwiches, scones, deserts and tea was hosting an
event that involved the lady riders having to wear
her fancy hats was such an "oxymoron."
Diedra Ovann of the Gypsy Riders participated in the ride
because she is a breast cancer survivor.
Bunny Prinacio rode down from Seattle after
finding out about the ride on the Internet and
said two women she works with contracted breast
cancer last year.
Ride organizer Kathleen Ewing of the Gypsy Riders
stressed that the Classy Lassies ride was geared
more towards women because it involved lunch and
shopping as much as riding.
To rider Cindy Slachta participating in a benefit
that involved only women made last week's ride more special.
"The hats top it off," she said.
