Lewiston, ME, April 30, 2014 -- In the United States over 2,000 people go missing each day. L-A Harley Davidson, recognizes these statistics and is sponsoring an event. L-A Harley is a motorcycle dealer for new and used bikes, as well as parts and services in Lewiston, Maine, they are sponsoring a “Ride For The Missing – Poker Run Charity Event” to benefit LostNMissing, Inc., a 501c(3) Nonprofit, which is a national missing persons organization based in Londonderry, NH. The organization aids law enforcement and families of missing, at no charge. While their case load is primarily missing adults, they also assists families of missing children.

LostNMissing has worked with the maternal family of missing child, Ayla Reynolds, since the time of her disappearance, reported on December 16, 2011. “The search for Reynolds is the largest criminal investigation in state history, it is also the third largest search for a missing child in Maine history” according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. Reynolds’s disappearance is believed to be the result of "foul play.” Reynolds will be the honorary recognized missing person at the event and the maternal family will be in attendance in support of LostNMissing.

All families of missing in New England are invited and encouraged to attend to set up an awareness table for their missing loved one, as well. An “open-mike” will follow the event in which those with local musical talents may play and families of missing may talk of their loved one’s cases. Media is encouraged to attend.

According to the NCIC (National Crime Information System / FBI) in 2013, 627,911 missing person records were entered into NCIC in the United States. “This figure does not count those missing, such as runaway teens, who are not entered or adults who may be mistakenly reported as missing due to non-communication with family members.” says Cynthia Caron, President-Founder, of LostNMissing. Overall, according to Caron, over 2,000 loved ones go missing each day. She further adds, “This event has been designed to not only help support our mission but also to help bring awareness to the public of those missing in New England.” Mary Vitt, VP of LostNMissing, further adds “Each stop the bikers make will have tables set up for bikers to pick up their poker card and will have informative brochures and information for the public to pick up, as well.”

Local businesses participating as stops will have an LNM representative to give safety and awareness information and brochures to the public from 9-11:30 am. Those businesses will include, L-A Harley in Lewiston, Hodgeman’s Frozen Custard, of New Gloucester, the American Legion, Post 86, in Gray, andTailgate Sports Bar & Grill, of Gray. The event begins at L-A Harley and will end there, as well, with a BBQ lunch, raffles and door prizes and local performers have donated their time to provide entertainment. Those performing are MB Padfield, an acoustic pop-rock singer/songwriter from Manchester, NH, Vincent ( DJ KOOL V ) Oden one of New England’s Premier DJs, and Lewiston’s own hip-hop artist Pius Mayanja, who goes by "Pallaso" onstage will perform his moving tribute to "It's Cold (Tribute to Ayla Reynolds)."

The event is open to the public. All New England bikers are also encouraged to participate. L-A Harley is offering the first place prize of a $500 store gift card and Central Maine Powersports is offering the 2nd place prize of $150 for their shop. Entrance Fee for bikers is $20.00 (Includes 5 Poker Cards / 1 Raffle Ticket / BBQ Lunch) Non-riders and the public can enjoy the BBQ Lunch at $10 per person, ages 6-12 is $5, under the age of 5 is free. A number of business have donated raffled prizes in which tickets are 2/ $5.00 or 5/$10.00, RetroPlanet.com, of Nashua, NH, donated four $25.00 gift cards, a $50.00 gift card to “The Common Man” Restaurants has been donated by the John Caron Family, of Londonderry, NH. Handmade crafts and jewelry will also be awarded as raffle gifts. Dunkin Donuts has donated the coffee for the event.

For more information, see any of the below links:
http://www.rideforthemissing.com
http://lostnmissing.org/ride-missing-event
https://www.facebook.com/RideForTheMissing.

Media Contact: Karen Ranoni, LostNMissing Inc., 603-490-8903, [email protected]