Bikers ride in Wake County to raise Helene relief for NC mountains

GARNER, N.C. (WNCN) — As the local motorcycling community continues raising donations for Hurricane Helene relief, hundreds of bikes took to North Carolina Highway 540 on Saturday.

"I'm so unbelievably grateful to be part of such a loving, open-hearted community," said Skylynn Fickling.

Fickling grew up in Boone in the North Carolina mountains. After seeing the devastation in her hometown and surrounding communities, she began to help lead relief efforts for the local biker community.

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"The guilt was overwhelming, as I sat at home, I felt I needed to do something, that was my community," she said.

With her help, riders with Dem's 2, the group that hosted Saturday's ride, have already filled up an entire U-Haul trailer worth of supplies for western North Carolina.

"I have never seen a community come together so spectacularly to help a home that isn't even theirs," said Fickling.

Riders say it's just how the motorcycle community is.

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"Motorcyclists seem to have a heightened need to help other people," said Jack Meechly, who organized the ride.

The ride was originally planned as a celebratory occasion for motorcyclists to get out and enjoy the recently opened stretch of 540.

But after Helene hit, Meechly knew it needed to be more.

"It really shows how much bikers truly care about the public and how much we want to help out as much as possible."

The group has also teamed up with local motorcycle dealerships to help bring in even more donations.