Motorcyclists welcome for 100-mile ride Saturday for Jason Johnston scholarship

File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo shows the fender of a motorcycle that was in a benefit ride on Aug. 19, 2017 to raise money for a scholarship in memory of Jason Johnston. It was one of 106 motorcycles in the ride that day.

ALBION – Motorcyclists and all vehicles are encouraged to be a part of 100-mile trek on Saturday to raise money for a scholarship in memory of Jason Johnston, an Albion native who was died in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009.

Johnston was killed by a roadside bomb in Arghandab. Johnston was a specialist and paratrooper in the Army. He was on his second tour in Afghanistan. He completed a 13-month-deployment in 2008 and left again for the war-torn country in October 2009

Participants in the ride should be at the Albion Elks Lodge at 10 a.m. on Saturday to register. The cost is $20 for drivers and $10 for passengers.

The Albion Elks Riders expect to leave the lodge by 11 a.m. for a ride that includes stops at the Alabama Hotel, Duffy’s in Mumford, the Brockport Elks Lodge and then concluding at the Albion Elks Lodge on West State Street.

Motorcyclists need to be back at the Albion Elks by 5 p.m. There will then be food and live music from Bandera, a local country music group. There is a $5 cover charge to attend the concert, with no additional charge to the motorcyclists.

“We believe very strongly in not letting go of Jason’s memory,” said Michael Jenks, sergeant at arms for the Albion Elks Riders.

The Albion Elks give out a $1,000 scholarship in Johnston’s name to a graduating senior pursuing a helping profession.