Reaching beyond 6 feet in height and weighing over 200 pounds., Calvin "Rusty" Hall Jr. is a softie at heart. While he may appear menacing as he enters a bar, the leather jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding Fairfax City man lights up as he describes volunteering on a fund-raising committee for the Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children
"To see what they do with the kids there is phenomenal," Hall said.
Hall became involved with the children's hospital through the Wednesday Night Crew, which he and several other motorcycle enthusiasts started over a year ago. The Wednesday Night Crew, or WNC, not only serves as a social group for motorcyclists, it organizes bike runs to support various causes.
Through their bike runs, they have raised money for the Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, juvenile diabetes research, and Toys for Tots. They rode in the Support the Troops Rally last spring, and they are scheduled to ride in the ceremony commemorating the finish of the World War II veterans memorial in May.
"It provides us an opportunity to give back to the community," Hall said.
THE IDEA of creating fund-raisers out of bike runs began several years ago among Hall and his buddies. Some of them had been meeting together on Wednesdays at the Sunset Grille in Annandale for as long as the past 20 years. Throughout that time, the motorcycle riders broke off into smaller groups. But Hall and several others wanted to create a group who rode together for fun and to give back to the community.
"Bottom line is, what we're trying to do is put motorcycle riders in a better light," Hall said.
Those working at the Sunset Grille suggested that the "Grill Buddies," as they were known then, could organize a bike run fund-raiser. Hall approached nova Fairfax Hospital for Children after riding by there one day.
They ended up raising $6,000 for the hospital last year.
"It's an awesome idea," said Sunset Grille bartender Winnie Pim. "You get so many different guys and a mix of people."
While fund-raising is key to the WNC, the other part of their mission is to have a good time. Every Wednesday night, whenever the weather is nice for riding, motorcycle riders numbering anywhere between 40 and 200 gather at the Sunset Grille for some food and drink before heading out on a ride.
The riders swap stories and compare bike models. They come from all walks of life: from college students to lawyers and doctors, from blue-collar workers to millionaires. Police officers also make up their unofficial ranks, as do federal government workers.
"As people realized we weren't a motorcycle club, we started getting lots and lots of people," Hall said.
THROUGHOUT the ride, WNC members have riders assigned to serve as traffic control at intersections and main roads. If a rider gets tipsy, they order a cab for the rider and put the motorcycle in the truck that follows the evening's route.
"It's a good deal. It gives people a chance to ride in a group, which is always fun," said Don "Smitty" Smith of Annandale, who manages Rolling Thunder Magazine and helps organize the annual Rolling Thunder run during Memorial Day weekend. Smith also helped advise WNC on becoming a nonprofit.
Hall hopes WNC can continue raising money for various causes. Under the group's bylaws, at least 80 percent of the money they raise must go to charity, although WNC's current donation rate is 96 cents per dollar raised.
Their next fund-raiser to support juvenile diabetes research will be at the Vienna Moose Lodge. The May 2 fund-raiser will feature live bands, food, and a moon bounce and activities for children.
WNC will start their ride at the Patriot Cafe in Fairfax before ending at the Moose Lodge in Vienna. All the proceeds of the event will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Hall stressed that everyone, not just motorcycle riders, can come to the May 2 event, as well as to other WNC events.
"The more we can get people to participate, the more we can do with our events," Hall said.