OTTUMWA —
Behind the custom-made motorcycle, bands and celebrity guest, Roger Borror said the Wounded Warrior Project is all about honoring and helping the nation’s veterans.
His project started out as a tribute to his grandfather, who served in World War II. Borror’s father wasn’t able to serve due to burns he sustained as a child, and Borror himself couldn’t serve due to problems with asthma.
“But I’ve been into motorcycles all my life, and in 2008 I had a vision of getting the community together to raise money for soldiers and to get this bike built,” Borror said of the Wounded Warrior Chopper. “We got enough money and had an event in July. But then the economy crashed and we didn’t have enough money, which is why the bike wasn’t done until last year.”
He revealed the bike on Veterans Day last year (Nov. 11, 2011, or 11-11-11) and has since taken it to shows and featured in magazines. The bike will be raffled off tonight, Dec. 12, 2012 (12-12-12).
While he was initially going to give the money raised to one local military post, eventually he changed the name in order to benefit the entire military.
“Why help out one branch? Let’s help out everybody,” he said. “That’s when we joined the Wounded Warrior Project.”
The Wounded Warrior Project is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping injured service men and women of the armed forces.
From 5 p.m. to midnight this evening at Bridge View Center, attendees can listen to the bands One Brick Shy, Pan Lanips and Fast Henry.
Tommy Flanagan, who plays “Chibs” on the hit TV show “Sons of Anarchy,” will also be on hand to sign autographs and draw the winning raffle ticket. Borror met Charlie Hunnam, who plays “Jax” on the show, at the Iowa Speedway. They eventually worked out a deal for Hunnam to come here for the event, though just last week Borror got a call that Hunnam wouldn’t be able to make it due to filming obligations.
“It’s not all about the motorcycle we’re giving away [Wednesday] night, the bands playing, the celebrity actor coming,” he said. “It’s about the men and women serving our country for the freedoms we have today.”
Raffle tickets are one for $10, three for $25 or 12 for $100. They can be purchased up until 8 p.m. tonight. The drawing for the bike will happen between 9-9:30 p.m.
“Come support your fallen soldiers and veterans,” Borror said. “Come support the military. The other stuff’s just a bonus.”
5 p.m. to midnight tonight
Bridge View Center
Admission: $20 per person in advance; $25 per person day of the event
Featured bands: One Brick Shy, Pat Lanips, Fast Henry
“Sons of Anarchy” actor Tommy Flanagan to sign autographs, draw winning raffle ticket
Ottumwa
Related Photos
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Roger Borror, Specialist Coral Kopp and Staff Sgt. Derek Miller showed off the Wounded Warrior Chopper to be raffled off at the Wounded Warrior event tonight at Bridge View Center. Borror has been working on the custom-made motorcycle for four years. Chelsea Davis/The Courier
December 12, 2012
Wounded Warrior event to benefit veterans
Custom-made motorcycle to be raffled off; night includes bands and celebrity guest
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