An Update From Fred

 
Its been almost a year since I made the call to Vinnie at VForce Customs to commission Diamond P. Last summer would find me watching the build via the Internet and e mail, and giving my input to VForce, and then to Justin Barnes on how I wanted the chopper to be built and painted.
 
From the beginning Diamond P was to be a tribute to the ACS and a fundraiser, to be used to bring awareness to this deadly killer, and raise money for the ACS and other Cancer organizations.
 
From the first days and right to the present Diamond P has been funded by myself and my company, Pickering Auto Service Inc. A lot of small businesses and friends have lent a hand to help with the logistics it takes to get the bike to events and promote it.  
 
I grew up and was raised by a wonderful man who taught me so much about life and how to live it. He instilled values in me that are hard to find today in mankind. After the untimely death of my father due to Cancer, it would take me 26 yrs to build my business, and allow me to carry out my vision for not only him but everyone that has lost there fight to Cancer.
 
On January 15, 2010 I would be allowed to see this bike unveiled to a standing room only crowd at Prime Event Center in Bay City, MI  with its builders present. The emotions I experienced that night still feel like yesterday, as it was the first time I was allowed to show and express how I felt not only about my Father, but millions of people who have lost there life to Cancer. This event would be the huge success it was, mainly because of my local Harley Davidson dealer, and one of its owners, Anthony D'Errico. Just one of many small companies who would pitch in to help me take this bike to the level I hoped.
 
At the end of the unveiling in January an event schedule was set up, largely in part due to help from Thunder Roads Magazine of Michigan and Diamond P Chopper being on the cover, and the feature story in the February 2010 issue.
 
Daytona, Florida and Bike Week would be DPC's first national tour event. Back to December,  it was then I first applied for a national raffle license to allow the legal sale of raffle tickets around the world for this bike since the bike has been viewed over the Internet in many countries besides the USA. Fully understanding Section 501c even before the bike was finished, bad advice would only lend its hand to more money spent for proper legal help to see this raffle take place. To this day I continue to fight for this license now just for the sale of raffle tickets in the USA only. From the beginning the raffle would be set up that all tickets sold would be purchased online and through an ACS link, allowing the ACS to track and take in the money, and hold a legal log of all tickets sold and to whom.
 
When I first established DPC it was with the intent to Auction or Raffle the bike off. It was never meant to be mine. There is nothing personal about an Auction, it's almost as insensitive as seeing someone die of cancer. My hope is that a National major company purchase the Diamond P Chopper and have the money go to the American Cancer Society, that's one option. However, seeing the bike go via a raffle and allowing either a cancer survivor, or their loved one to own this tribute bike is what my intent has really been from the beginning. Duly noted I am a very small company and have funded this project in whole since day one, I not only has a Veteran of the Armed forces, but a God fearing US Citizen am ashamed of our Federal and State Governments and their ability to stop in any way they see fit via red tape, a chance for a National organization like the ACS to raise money for research and give more help to those who fight cancer. It is very disappointing to say the least.
 
This said, every time the bike goes to an event such as a Relay For Life event, and the role call of those who have lost there fight is called, tears roll down my face as I think our own Federal and State Governments are allowing this, in their inability to establish a legitimate raffle, or in my case a National organization such as the ACS who has helped millions through there various programs.
 
As this summer comes around, the bike is booked for events through the end of August with requests coming in weekly for others. We do not charge for the appearance of the bike, we only ask if the event is a Cancer fund raising event with all proceeds going to that organization.
 
Call this a Blog entry or an update. I felt it necessary to make this public. After all, the Internet is a powerful tool, it brought me in contact with the likes of many friends and companies including VForce Customs the builders of Diamond P Chopper, and Justin Barnes of JB Grafix, the painter of this tribute bike.
 
So my plea is this, if you are reading this and you are an attorney with experience in these types of things, or you are a major corporation who would be interested in purchasing the Diamond P Chopper as a memorial, contact me. I am not a Fortune 500 company nor will I ever be. What I am is a person that is so convicted in seeing the ACS get the help they justly deserve, I continue to fund and promote this Chopper.
 
To my fellow Americans and people beyond our shores, thank you for your support! We have logged 8,795 miles since February 2010 touring the bike. It's trailer is adorned with "America's Cancer Tribute Bike" logos on all sides and it's rear ramp door. In this day and age of road rage and lack of respect for mankind in general, I am proud to say as this bike goes down one interstate after another the respect that is shown to us, be it a thumbs up, or allowing us back into a lane, restores my faith in my fellow Americans. At events the emotions that have freely been expressed of your loved ones who have passed, your standing ovations as we leave is all I need to keep me going knowing that this tribute is touching the hearts of many.
 
Fred Pickering
Pickering Automotive Service
Diamond P Chopper

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