After a decade, family and friends are still taking part in a memorial to an Essex man killed in a motorcycle accident in May 2000.
On Sunday, more than 1,000 motorcyclists will take part in the 11th annual Nelson's Ride, a slow ride beginning and ending in Stage Fort Park, and traveling through Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton and Manchester in between.
Drivers should expect some traffic delays along the ride's route.
Nelson Selig was killed when a 19-year-old driver crossed the center line of Route 133 in Ipswich near Bruni's Market and hit his motorcycle.
The ride began as way to help Nelson Selig's widow, Felicia, raise enough money to send the couple's children, Nelson Jr. and Kristin, to college. That was accomplished, and, in 2003, Felicia requested that the proceeds from the ride go to the Massachusetts Motorcyclists Survivor's Fund.
The fund, which now organizes the ride, is a nonprofit organization of all volunteers who raise money to help Essex County families of riders killed or seriously injured in accidents, and promote motorcycle safety and awareness to help reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities.
"Nelson's sister, Jeannine, is riding for the first time," according to Paul W. Cote, co-founder and president of the fund. She will be "ride queen," a position her mother, Faye Brophy, had when she rode in the event for the first time last year.
"I've always thought about doing the ride," said Jeannine Selig Silverman of Beverly, who, like other members of the family, has watched the bikers ride from a roadside memorial for her brother for a decade.
"Last year, our mom rode the ride for the first time, and she had a great time and a smile on her face for a week," Silverman said. "She felt safe, proud and thankful all at the same time, waving to the thousands lining the streets in support of this event."
Other family members will also ride; Selig's widow, Felicia Selig Guzzo; his stepfather, Bob Brophy of Essex, for the third year; and another sister, Melane.
Registration for the ride begins at 9:30 a.m. at the park; advance tickets, $10, are available at local cycle shops and other locations. Tickets the day of the event are $15, Cote said.
The ride kicks off at noon; Mix 104.1 radio personality Kennedy will sing the national anthem and then join ride.
There will be bands, including Full Circle of Gloucester, a 50/50 raffle worth more than $500, and door prize drawings beforehand, Cote said.
The first riders will start returning to the park around 1 p.m. The afternoon will feature some bike games, more band entertainment, and raffles, before the event ends at 4:30 p.m. Among the raffle prizes are a LoJack antitheft system for a motorcycle, worth about $500, and a rider safety course, worth about $300, both donated by Cycles 128 in Beverly. Also being raffled will be a backpack filled with back-to-school supplies and a tequila gift basket — "not to be drinking and driving" — said Cote. Raffle ticket holders need not be present to win.
This year's T-shirt and sweatshirts were designed by Joanne Gallant and the posters by Frank Perron, both of Ipswich.
Ride and raffle tickets may be purchased at Cycles 128 in Beverly; the Ipswich VFW; the Whittier Motel; Seacoast Cycles in Newburyport; Provanzano Law Offices in Peabody; Eric's Auto Repair and Gypsy Cycles in Rowley; and Lister Insurance Agency in Medford.
More information is available at www.NelsonsRide.org and www.MassMSF.org.
Andrea Holbrook an be reached at 978-283-7000, x3456, or aholbrook@gloucestertimes.com.
RIDE ROUTE
Start at noon — Stage Fort Park, Hough Avenue, Gloucester, south on Hough Avenue, left on Western Avenue to Essex Avenue.
12:08 — Ride at Route 128 overpass.
12:12 — Enter Essex.
12:15 — Passing Woodman's left.
12:16 — Pass Route 22 on left.
12:21 — Enter Ipswich.
12:22 — Pass Raymond's Fields on left.
12:24 — Pass roadside memorial and cross.
12:25 — Left turn onto Route 1A.
12:33 — Railroad crossing, Hamilton.
12:35 — Left onto Larch Road.
12:36 — Railroad crossing, Hamilton.
12:38 — Right onto Grapevine Road.
12:43 — Travel straight over Route 128. Grapevine turns into Hart Street, Hart turns into Hale Street.
12:49 — Left from Hale Street onto Route 127.
12:53 — Manchester Town Hall.
1 — Enter Gloucester on Route 127.
1:05 p.m. — Right into Stage Fort Park, Hough Avenue.
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