A group of bikers rode into Mesquite Creek’s parking lot Saturday, to celebrate Halloween with approximately 50 special needs children.
‘It was a Halloween party for handicap children, kids that wouldn’t have the opportunity to go trick or treating due to their mental or physical capabilities or in capabilities,? said Kaz Mamon. ‘We literally brought Halloween for the kids, but it was more educational type items. Activity books, coloring books, crayons, yoyo’s, rulers, pencils, markers, but the neat thing was the owner of the restaurant is an author and creator of children’s books.?
Mesquite Creek owner Tony Vital and author ‘Leadership First Books? signed a set of his books for each child.
‘I published a series of books based on human development for kids to teach them basic leadership skills. They’re bedtime stories that are written as rhyming affirmations,? he said. ‘My initial idea was that they were early leadership for kids, but it seems more and more the ones who are purchasing the books are buying them for special needs kids because they’re great for kids with special needs or autism because the affirmations are so repetitive.?
‘He played a passionate role I think in one-on-one participation of being able to give a set of his books to each one of the children,? said Mamon.
The children were given a special lunch of hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, pizza and juice boxes, which were all donated free of charge, noted Vital.
‘The kids actually line up on the side of the street like houses and the bikers ride in park their bikes. They’re all loud and everything,? he said. ‘The children are all going crazy, then they get off their bikes and they are like the trick or treaters taking Halloween to the kids, so they put all the candy right in the kid’s baskets and everything.?
Vital said the one the ‘coolest? moments for him was seeing one of the kids who was blind get a chance to sit on one of the Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
‘Sitting there he’s got his hands on the handle bars and they start up the bike, just the look on his face (was like) ‘wow? and he’s revving the engine,? said Vital. ‘It was just awesome, that was the highlight for me.?
Mamon started what he called ‘The Mamon Ride? about 10 years go to raise money for kids in Mott Children’s Hospital, and since then he has organized seven Halloween rides, three Easter rides, and a special visit from Santa, Mamon at the Whaley House in Flint, and a trip to Minnesota to the Cancer Center.
‘In 100 Years from now, It will not matter as to the size of my bank account, the type, size, or location of the home I have lived in or the car I have driven,? he said. ‘But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.?