Railway City bikers chapter unites to help abused children | Reserve news | So Good News

NORTH PERTH – Bikers in the area are doing a lot of good by helping abused children through one of the toughest times in their lives.

In a recent interview with Banner, Public Relations and Agency Liaison for the local Railway City Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), Rayz-N explained the mission of BACA, hoping to shed light on the organization.

“BACA exists with the intention of creating a safer environment for abused children. No child deserves to live in fear,” says BACA’s mission.

BACA is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that began in Utah in 1995 and has grown to over 19 countries worldwide, with six chapters in Ontario. The Railway City Chapter, based at St. Thomas, covers a large area, including North Perth. BACA was founded by a licensed clinical social worker, registered play therapist/counselor and part-time faculty member at Brigham Young University.

How the BACA process works is that a parent or guardian will contact the organisation, who will then be handed over to a child contact. After contacting BACA, the contact person confirms that the case has been reported and meets the criteria that BACA can help with. BACA’s remit is very narrow and includes a criterion to take only a certain amount of cases, as each case must meet their mission statement. One of the speculations is that the abuser cannot live with the child, as BACA cannot promise safety. Furthermore, the abuse must have been officially reported. The executive board will then discuss whether BACA can take the case. If so, they interview the child and ask the child if they would like to be part of their BACA family. If so, they begin the Level 1 intervention. There are two levels of intervention that BACA does. The first level is the first trip to the child’s house or safe place, where the entire chapter will pull up on their motorcycles. Each child then receives a road vest, or a ‘kutte’ (pronounced ‘cut’), with a road name of their choice. The children do not know the cyclists’ real names and vice versa, as they all now go by their road names. The child is then welcomed into the BACA family for the rest of their life.

“When that cut goes on their back, they’re part of our pack and they know it,” Rayz-N said.

The second level of intervention is to deter further abuse and protect the child and their family.

“We also go to court with our injured friends. The sole purpose of our physical presence is to help the child become less frightened and frightened, and then to give accurate testimony about his or her abuse,” the BACA website states.

Two primaries are assigned to each child and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They work in partnership with local and provincial officials who are already in place to protect the child.

“Before becoming the primary contact for the child, the riders are cleared for participation by passing an extensive background check, have been riding with the chapter for at least one year, and have received special instructions from licensed mental health personnel,” the report states. website.

“We come to children in the darkest days they will ever know. And I mean, we sit in court with them, we hear what they’ve been through. And they take our hands and trust us. We walk them to the light and let them go, explains Rayz-N.

BACA is with them until the court case is ready, but the children are part of the family for the rest of their lives.

“After they’re done with us, they’re on the mend. They have gone from victim to survivor,” expressed Rayz-N.

“Once a BACA kid, always a BACA kid.”

“Our mission is not to be permanently engaged as the child’s power. Our mission is to help children and their families learn how powerful they can be,” the website says.

This persona of a ‘cyclist’ gives the organization the ability to do what they do.

“This persona helps us, because no one wants to cross someone in leather and chains,” Rayz-N said.

However, it does not help with public perception. These bikers dedicate their time to helping these abused children and ensuring their safety. They put the child first and work to rebuild the child’s confidence and self-esteem. They invite the child into their ‘cyclist’ family with the hope of helping them through one of the toughest times in the child’s life.

“We get a lot more out of BACA than we could ever give back,” explained Rayz-N.

To learn more about BACA’s Railway City Chapter, call 1-877-231-3478 or email [email protected]