Biker and rock band collaboration for local good

Paragould, Arkansas – The Saints and Sinners Riding Club is preparing to hold the annual Angel Run in Downtown Paragould for the 12th time since 2010, with the theme “It’s All About Hope.”

The riding club stepped up to raise money for a local family to help with medical expenses after a seven-year-old girl had a stroke and was taken to the hospital over ten years ago. They planned Hope Espinoza’s first event, but now the annual fundraiser supports the Arkansas Children’s Hospital so that “hope” can be given to more people.

A car and bike display, a silent auction, free live music all day, and other activities are included in the event. Black Stone Cherry is the event’s featured performer this year.

“We always try to give back any time we can,” Ben Wells, the band’s guitarist, said. “We like to do stuff like that because if we can use our platform to give back to our community or any other places, that means a lot to us. Any time we can get up there and play some rock and roll for a good cause, that’s the ultimate payoff.”

The band most recently sold out London’s Wembley OVO Arena. They will now scale back a little to perform for Northeast Arkansas folks. In actuality, it’s their first performance back in America following an arena tour of Europe.

“We’ve always been the band that’s happy to be on stage. It doesn’t matter the size of the audience. As long as people that are having a good time, we’re having a good time,” Wells said. “There could be five people in the audience as long as we know it’s for a great reason.”

The Georgia Thunderbolts will appear as special guests with the band.

The event begins at 7 a.m. with a free breakfast. At nine in the morning, the first bikers will then start their journey across Northeast Arkansas. Before arriving at the Independence Club House, the trip will make stops in Lake City, Lorado, and other cities. It will begin at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center.

The event has amassed close to $120,000 in donations since its start in 2010. The Angel Run raised $20,000 the year before, and this year’s organizers hope to surpass it. Whatever it may be, every donation makes a significant difference in the lives of children in Arkansas who are in need.