CRESWELL – After hearing a friend talk about motorcycles during their military days, P.J. “Road Runner” Johnson was certainly curious what all the excitement was about.
“I didn’t get my first bike until I got back from Afghanistan,” said Johnson, Chapter Commander of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.
“That came from talking to one of the guys I was with. All he talked about was he couldn’t wait to get on the road and not be surrounded by concrete and have the freedom of movement. So that was in the back of my head when I got my first bike. The first time I hit the open road, I was hooked.”
Since that time, Johnson has helped to lead a “Wheels 4 Warriors” initiative that includes the annual Poker Run on Saturday, Sept. 21. All proceeds go to Wheels 4 Warriors PNW. See cvma292.org for more event details.
“When you’re on a bike you have to focus – we call it two-wheel therapy, because that’s all you can focus on while you’re on those two wheels,” said Johnson, a Creswell resident. “Everything that comes at you, roadkill, all those smells, going through the Ponderosa Pines, the smell of the forest …
“We wanted to get it going throughout the country, so when I got here that was my goal, to get the program going here – providing a bike for somebody who’s going to benefit from it. It’s not a recruitment tool for us. It’s providing a bike to somebody who will benefit from it.”
During previous Poker Runs, riders would get one card at all five stops, and the best poker hand won a cash prize. This time – so cards won’t get lost – competitors will pick up a Skoal bead at each stop, then show them to get five cards dealt.
The Poker Run starts – and finishes – at Willamette Valley Harley Davidson, 86441 College View Road, Eugene. They expect to get rolling at 11 a.m. and finish up a little after 4 p.m.
The local CVMA Chapter 29 is a tight-knit group of 20 members, six auxiliary members (all spouses), and a support member who’s a veteran who didn’t see combat. About 95% of CVMA members are combat veterans.
Johnson was joined Sunday by Thomas “Gunner” Stucky, the Chapter Secretary. His wife, Susie “Shots,” also does some media work.
You’ll notice that many of the members have nicknames.
“It keeps things fun,” said Stucky, who was deployed to Iraq in 2006 during his stay in the Army.
He said he was fortunate to avoid any major injuries, but just like Johnson – who was in Afghanistan in 2009-10, he returned with a good dose of PTSD.
To be a CVMA member, one must:
— Own a motorcycle that is 500cc or larger, must keep highway speeds
— Have verifiable combat service
— Be of good character, show that you had an honorable discharge, show that you are legal, with insurance and registration so that you don’t bring discredit upon the organization as a whole
— Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter Commander P.J. “Road Runner” Johnson, left, and Chapter Secretary Thomas “Gunner” Stucky pose with their bikes Sunday in Creswell. Put family first, the organization comes after your family and job.
“Our goal and our mission is helping veterans,” Stucky said. “The Poker Run is one of our bigger events, so it should be a good day.”
Nonprofits coverage in The Chronicle sponsored by Kendall Subaru of Eugene.
