Temecula Group Raises Awareness of Child Abuse

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and several Angels are helping raise awareness.

Temecula Angels for a Cause, a group of seven women who raise funds for charities that help abused and neglected children, is participating in the annual "50 Miles for a Child Benefit Ride" on April 20.

The fundraiser is hosted by the Inland Empire chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse, an international organization that aims to create a safe environment for victims of child abuse.

Susan Murphy, the founding member of Temecula Angels for a Cause who is known as “Fallen Angel,” said she and her fellow Angels – Slayer Angel, Evil Angel, Blingin' Angel, Rockin' Angel, Naughty Angel and Cherub Angel – are thrilled to support their fellow bikers.

“We all have great kids that are healthy; they’re not abused,” Murphy said. “This is just a way to give back.”

To help victims of abuse feel safe and protected, the bikers of BACA ride alongside the children as they go to school and to court, and in some cases, are also present at the homes of the victims. 

“We just let [victims of child abuse] know they’re in our family,” said “Chains,” president of the Inland Empire chapter of BACA. (BACA members go by their road names for security.) “Most of them have been told, ‘If you tell anybody I’m going to kill you and your whole family.’ Well now they have family that’s scarier than anybody they know.”

Temecula Angels for a Cause was introduced to BACA when local chapter members supported the Angels’ second annual Charity Toy Run in December. Roughly 175 riders delivered more than 200 donated toys and 50 Walmart gift cards for Childhelp Merv Griffin Village in Beaumont, a nonprofit organization that treats abused, neglected and at-risk children.

“The kids just loved it,” Murphy said. “They loved hearing the rumble of the motorcycles. Just seeing their faces – that was the biggest thing.”

It was the faces of victims that inspired Murphy and her friends to focus on raising awareness and funds to support abused and neglected children.

Temecula Angels for a Cause was formed in 2011 when Murphy was asked by a friend to help bring in audience members for a band’s gig at the Temecula Valley Moose Lodge in September 2011. Murphy, who was recently laid off from her job at the time, decided to organize a charity poker run to coincide with the event and benefit the Twin Towers Orphan Fund.

“I was approached to try to get people to come to an event and I thought what better way to do that than to give back,” she said. “I have a pretty great life. I was laid off, but I have a great family and I have a wonderful husband.”

In just four weeks, Murphy and her newly-formed group were able to attract 150 participants and collected more than $2,500.

Following the success of their first fundraiser, Temecula Angels for a Cause organized its first Charity Toy Run in November 2011 and collected about 75 toys for Childhelp.

“That’s what sold us on aiming toward child’s abuse,” Murphy said. “We saw the kids firsthand and saw that Childhelp is bringing back the spirit of these children.”

Murphy said she and the other Angels are planning another benefit run in November and are also working on becoming an official nonprofit organization. Until then, the Temecula-based Angels are honored to support BACA’s "50 Miles For a Child Benefit Ride" by participating and donating raffle items.

Beginning at Tom’s Farms in Corona, participants will make five stops at various locations throughout the Inland Empire. Participants will get a stamp at each destination, and whoever has the best poker card at the end of the poker run will receive $250 in cash.

Tickets for the benefit ride on April 20 cost $40 per couple and $25 per person. Funds raised at the event, which will feature a live band and giveaways at the final location, will help purchase BACA blankets and vests with BACA patches for children. Event proceeds will also help fund counseling sessions as well sports and arts activities for child abuse victims.

“Children are our future,” said Chains of Beaumont, who has three children, two grandchildren, and is currently providing a home to three additional children in the custody of Child Protective Services. “You can either teach them pain and suffering – because they learn what they live – or you can teach them love and kindness. All they’ve known is evil and not everybody is like that.”

To learn more about Temecula Angels for a Cause, visit temeculaangels.com. 

For more information about the Inland Empire chapter of BACA and the "50 Miles For a Child Benefit Ride," contact at baca_ie@yahoo.com and visit http://california.bacaworld.org/california/inland-empire-chapter/.