Bishop - riding to raise funds, and a soldier’s spirits

A group of Bishop motorcycle enthusiasts are heading out next weekend, Saturday, May 23, to help a wounded warrior.
Jerral Hancock, 22, of Lancaster, was injured in East Baghdad on Memorial Day 2007 while serving in the U.S. Army. According to Steve Garrison of the California VTX Motorcycle Club (named for the motorcycle of choice of its members), Hancock was severely injured when his tank hit an improvised explosive device. Hancock was trapped inside the burning tank for nearly a half hour before rescuers were able to extract him. By that time, the damage was done.
Hancock was struck in the neck by shrapnel flying through the tank during the explosion. He was paralyzed from the chest down, lost his left arm up to the shoulder and had to receive numerous skin graphs due to the severity of the burns to his torso and limbs.

Jerrel Hancock is this year’s VTX Riders Wounded Warrior. Hancock was severely wounded on Labor Day 2007 when his tank was stuck by an explosive in Iraq. The motorcycle club is raising money to fund renovations to the soldier’s home and to help him with any other necessities. Photo courtesy the California VTX Riders

After a lengthy stay in the hospital, Veterans Assistance sent contractors to Hancock’s home to help widen doorways and build ramps for the wounded warrior’s wheelchair. Currently, the husband and father of two, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, is hoping to have a covering built over his patio so he can enjoy his backyard and watch his children play.
He has received bids for that work and is waiting for the VA to approve the work.
That’s where the California VTX Motorcycle Club comes into play.
The VTX Riders have been supporting Wounded Warriors for five years through an annual club motorcycle run to Big Bear. A portion of the proceeds from ride T-shirts, ride pins and the ride barbecue are donated to an individual.
The club is adding $10 to the price of each T-shirt, lunch at the barbecue and $7 or $8 per ride pin. All those funds will go to Hancock.
“So if you’re kind of tapped out financially, buy a lunch and buy a ride T-shirt and ride pin and you’ll be giving this year’s wounded warrior close to $30,” one VTX member said on the club’s forum. “If you have more, I know it will be greatly appreciated.”
There are at least three riders from Bishop with solid plans to head up to Big Bear and donate to Hancock – Garrison, Shawn Edwards and Rick Fry. But residents don’t have to be a member of the VTX Club, or even ride a VTX to go on the run or support Hancock. Garrison said everyone is welcome.
“Originally we raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project,” Garrison said, “but we decided to just find an individual and let them know that people actually do care. And they’re shocked to find out how much people care.”
The VTX riders raise approximately $5,000 each year for a wounded warrior, though there is not a stated goal for fundraising.
“We just do as best we can,” Garrison said. “We just put it out there and get as many people as we can to come out.”
Last year’s wounded warrior, Bobby Body, helped the VTX riders select Hancock as this year’s beneficiary.
“Jerral is actually going to come up to where we have the barbecue, we’re going to escort him and his family up,” Garrison said, adding that it’s quite a sight to see 100 motorcycles rolling into town with an honored member of the troop being escorted.
All the money raised for Hancock goes directly to him, and he will have full discretion on how to spend it. Garrison said that a contractor in the Lancaster area has, at the behest of VTX members, agreed to donate time and labor to construct Hancock’s covered patio, and even said it would solicit donations for materials. A group of VTX members, including Garrison, has agreed to spend a weekend or two in Lancaster, donating labor to the project.
“That way,” Garrison said, “the money goes to whatever needs (Hancock) has,” and he’ll have his covered patio.
Anyone who would like to join in the ride to Big Bear, or who would just like to make a contribution to Hancock, can contact Ride Organizer Ken Bell at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.californiavtxriders.com.