A fifth grader with autism has been subjected to some bullying by older neighborhood kids, has now found support from a group of area motorcyclists
By RANDY SEAVER | Editor
A Biddeford boy — who has long been bullied by some older neighborhood kids — received quite a surprise on Tuesday when more than a dozen motorcycle enthusiasts showed up to help celebrate his tenth birthday.
Jesse Southard is a fifth-grade student with autism. He’s also a big fan of motorcycles. He loves the roar and likes to imagine what it’s like to ride a bike on the open highway.
Unfortunately, Jesse is routinely bullied and teased by some older kids who live near his Clifford Street home.
Jesse’s mother, Kendra Southard said the bullying has been going on for several months, most notably at the bus-stop near his home.
Get your motors runnin’
Over the last few weeks, Jesse has made some unlikely friends – members of 207 Street Bike Life, a loose-knit group of more than 3,400 bikers across Maine.
Skyler Lane of Biddeford is one of the group’s members, and said his organization takes a very dim view of bullying.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for that kind of thing,” Lane explained only moments before Jesse got off the school bus.
Head out on the highway . . .
Aimee Springer, a member of 207 Street Bike Life, helped organize the surprise birthday party, complete with an ice cream truck that provided free ice cream snacks to neighborhood kids and others who gathered to help Jesse celebrate.
Springer said she first met Jesse last year during another anti-bullying event.
“He’s got such a great personality,” Springer said, noting Jesse’s enthusiasm whenever he sees a passing motorcycle. “He has great energy, and just always brings a smile to your face.
Looking for adventure . . .
Kim Sloan, the owner of Dottie’s Ice Cream, said it was a no-brainer when Springer asked her to drive from Gray to Biddeford for Tuesday’s surprise party.
Sloan refused to accept payment for the ice cream snacks. “We just like opportunities to pay it forward,” she said.
Kendra Southard appeared a bit choked up as she watched the bikers rally around her son as he revved several of the parked motorcycles.
“He really is a special boy, and that’s not about the autism,” Southard said. “He’s always been fascinated by motorcycles. He does really well in school, and he has so much enthusiasm.”
In whatever comes our way
Dale LaCourse of Biddeford was one of the bikers who attended Jesse’s surprise party.
“It’s a good story,” LaCourse said. “It changes the wow factor. Riding is great, but seeing this kid’s smile is even better.”
Jesse said Tuesday’s event had become his favorite birthday surprise. “This is awesome,” he said.
And what about those bullies?
There was no sign of them on Tuesday afternoon.
Maybe it was because of the television news crew or the 265-pound community news editor.
Or maybe – just maybe – it was a group of motorcyclists with one central message: “Bullying is not cool.”
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