SPRUCE PINE — The memory of the late Maggie Young lives on through the annual Maggie’s Ride fundraiser and the 2020 edition of the event proceeded as planned despite the ongoing pandemic.
During the second year of Maggie’s Ride on Saturday, Aug. 22, dozens of motorcycles and other vehicles became part of a large, optimistic convoy that left the parking lot of the Spruce Pine Walmart, went onto the Blue Ridge Parkway and then traveled past Jonas Ridge and around Lake James in McDowell County.
Each vehicle paid $20 to register for the ride. All proceeds from the event benefit the Maggie Rae Young Memorial Scholarship fund.
Maggie Young, who was a student at Gouge Elementary, died in April 2019.
Maggie’s Ride raised nearly $3,000 in its first year in 2019, but those proceeds included door prize drawing and raffle money. Door prizes, raffles and other contact-heavy parts of the event were canceled this year due to the pandemic.
Amy Young, Maggie’s mother and one of the event organizers, said even though the event looked different this year, it was important to her that the ride still go on.
“We had big plans for this year for what we were going to do after the ride,” she said. “We were going to have food and music. COVID really put a damper on it but I didn’t want to just not do it.”
To date, the Maggie Rae Young Memorial Scholarship fund contains more than $10,000— much of which has come from private donors.
Amy Young said the goal of the fund is to put one of Maggie’s classmates— who will graduate high school in 2031— through college on a full ride.
“Maggie loved school,” Amy Young said. “She loved her friends. That is why I want to be able to put one of her classmates through college when this is all over with.”
Amy Young thanked everyone who has participated in Maggie’s Ride or donated to the scholarship fund.
“It really means a lot to me to have the people show up and raise money to keep Maggie’s memory alive,” she said. “This really touches my heart to have all the participation.”
The Maggie Rae Young Scholarship fund is set up through United Community Bank of Bakersville. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund outside of the annual Maggie’s Ride can do so through the bank.