They're an unlikely team. A teenage girl with a life long disease and big, tattooed biker dudes. Both sides are getting a lot out of the partnership as the men are helping the teen look cool for school.
Michigan - When you see a group of tough bikers pull into a parking lot, probably the last place you think they would be going is shopping. However, the bad to the bone biker image melted away when they met 14-year-old Brittney Burke. She's a young girl recently diagnosed with scleroderma, a chronic, auto immune disease that over time causes the skin and organs to harden.
"I am just so touched by their unconditional giving," said her mother Michelle Price.
Like any teenager, Burke was nervous for her first day of high school. However, that all changed when she meet the Huron Valley Night Hawks, who held a charity ride and raised enough money to take her back-to-school shopping.
The Night Hawks became Burke's knight in shining armor. At Livonia's TJ Maxx, the bikers, who looked more like her body guards, helped hold on to her clothes, gave their opinions and even became her personal shoppers.
"It's nice to do that and it's like different seeing like bikers shopping," Burke said.
The Night Hawks generosity and shopping skills impressed Burke, but she seemed to make a lasting impression on these bikers.
"Just (knowing) that... somebody that young could go through something this traumatic," said Len "Hacker" Noe. "She's completely redefined what strength and courage... and just being strong really means."
"It just warms your heart to see her," said Chris Williamson. "She's battling such a tough disease and... to see her smile and that we're able to help her is phenomenal to me," said Chris Williamson.
It also warms the heart of Burke's mom, who had to quit her job to care for her daughter and wouldn't be able to afford the clothes without their help.
"It's so nice to know and there's a relief to me when I lay my head down at night that there are others that care about this disease to make a difference," Price said.
"It's actually really nice. I didn't even expect any of this," said Burke.
On top of everything they've done already, the Huron Valley Night Hawks plan to pick-up Burke from school on their motorcycles Tuesday, making her first day of high school one day that she will never forget.
Source: My Fox Detroit
This article contributed by editor on Thursday, September 10, 2009 (01:40:54)
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