TURNER — For more than seven months the group of 16 friends and fellow motorcycle enthusiasts raised money for a cause close to their hearts.

On Saturday, Fire & Iron Motorcycle Club 707 rolled into Twitchell’s Airport in Turner on their steel horses and delivered a check for more than $1,653 to support Shriners Hospitals for Children. After taking ample advantage of Saturday’s perfect riding weather, the group arrived at the inaugural Teddy Bear Run Kare for Kids Ride In at Twitchell’s Airport in Turner.

“Because the Shriners have the burn centers and we’re all firefighters, we thought this would be a great charity,” Reggie Poirier said of why Fire & Iron members chose to raise money for the hospitals. “If we don’t do it, then who else is going to do it? We want to lead by example.”

The local motorcycle club includes firefighters, EMTs, medics and others associated with fire service. Poirier said members have hosted their own poker runs and other fundraisers leading up to Saturday’s event.

Organized by the Kora Shriners, the charity rally and all-day event aimed to raise $5,000 for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Twitchell’s Airport donated the use of its land for the event, which featured bands, food, fun and fireworks throughout the day and into the evening.

The national health care system includes 22 children’s hospitals specializing in pediatric care, innovative research and teaching programs for medical professionals.

According to its website, children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Eligibility is not based on financial need or relationship to a Shriner.

“Because of the hospital, we’re able to get out and concentrate on doing things with her to keep her mind occupied,” said Joely Ross, whose 4½-year-old daughter is a patient of Shriners Hospitals for Children. “They’re taking care of her so we’re able to concentrate on fun things like being a family.”

The South Portland mother and her family came out to support the Saturday event along with their daughter, Madison, who was born with hip dysplasia. The toddler has undergone two operations at the Boston hospital to help correct the disorder.

Saturday’s ride raised money for the two Shriners Hospitals for Children in Massachusetts. In addition to Boston, there is a location in Springfield, Mass.

“The ride is bringing public awareness to what Shriners do and to Shriners Hospitals for Children,” said Rick Bergeron, a Shriner from Poland who volunteered at the event.

Potentate Barry Gates, head of the Kora Shriners and a motorcycle enthusiast, said organizers hoped to build on the event for next year. He was pleased by the turnout and expected more people to arrive as the afternoon went on and fireworks lit up the night skies over Turner.

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