Bikers Come To The Aid Of Autistic Boy

Six-year-old Connor Brock has been working this month to win the Lemonade Stand Challenge.

Connor set up his portable lemonade stand every day in different areas of his hometown of Belen, New Mexico, to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Not only was his operation an act of charity, it was also a learning experience for Connor, who has level 2 autism which makes it difficult for him to communicate.

Connor was close to reaching his goal of raising $250, when his parents picked him up to have dinner one day last week. When they returned to the stand later that day, thieves had cleared out his snacks, drink mixes, and equipment from the stand. His dad was shocked. "I was just dumbfounded because we weren’t gone long, maybe 20 minutes. It was items that you wouldn’t even think anyone would take unless they were going to set up a lemonade stand”.

When news of the theft made social media, local motorcycle groups, Moose Riders Belen 1680 and Rogue Biker Life, had their bikers come show their support. "We just wanted to stand behind him and come show some support and just let him know that we're here, and we got his back," says Marcos Jaramillo, president of Moose Riders Belen 1680 who says 58 of their riders showed up.. Additionally, an anonymous donor restocked Conner’s operation and the New Mexico Gas Company donated money and even built Connor a whole new lemonade stand. And just like that, Conner’s lemonade stand was back in business and easily surpassed the $250 goal!