The Long Reach Long Riders hosted an auction to benefit Behind the Scenes at their 20th Anniversary Ride’s celebratory banquet earlier this month. The auction itself was quite special, including only one item, a detailed quilt incorporating t-shirts from every charity ride hosted by the LRLR over their 20-year history. The quilt was created and donated, “a true labor of love” by long time BTS supporters and quilters Shan and Trish Ayers.  

The Ayers regularly donate many of their intricate handcrafted woodwork creations, including items to be auctioned off during the annual LRLR Raffle at the USITT conference as well as for sale on the Behind the Scenes website. Shan Ayers commented, “The quilt idea came about during casual conversation at the BTS booth this past March in St. Louis. The timetable was tight, so we immediately went to work. The work that LRLR and BTS do for those in the industry who are in need is invaluable! We were honored, and humbled, to be asked to be a part of this project.”

Once the auction was underway, a bidding war ensued. Ultimately, Bill Sapsis, one of the founders of the Long Reach Long Riders, emerged the winner.  Bill noted, “The LRLR are family, and the 20th anniversary commemorative quilt represents everyone’s efforts to support the ride and the Behind the Scenes charity. It’s an honor to become its caretaker. I will cherish it, and the LRLR, always.”

The auction added energy to an already exciting celebration for the Long Reach Long Riders. Commemorating 20 years of riding for charity, LRLR core member Moe Conn recounted, “We feel so lucky we have been able to raise money for Behind the Scenes for so many years. Having the opportunity to celebrate our longevity with a fantastic banquet, a wonderful slideshow created by Eddie Raymond, and this awesome quilt created by the Ayers, is a gift that will propel us forward for the next 20 years of giving back!”

For additional information about Behind the Scenes, visit www.behindthescenescharity.org. For more information about the Long Reach Long Riders, visit www.lrlr.org.