BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
LAKE BUTLER — Local motorcycle enthusiast Willie Smith passed away three years ago from cancer, but he is remembered by his friends with the annual Big Willie Dice Run Motorcycle Event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Last year his mother passed from cancer, a lady with the unlikely name of Wolverine (really, she was named by her grandmother Jemima), so this year’s run is named for her – “Run for Wolverine”, with the event honoring Cassie Driggers. In between, last year, the run was held honoring Nadine Faulk and organizer Brian Barton’s wife’s brother, Ryan Jones.
“Every year the money raised goes to a cancer charity,” Barton said. “This year we decided to donate it to the Lake Butler Hospital/Shadd Trucking “United for a Cure” 5K, the funds from which will be donated to the American Cancer Society.”
The event began at the historic Townsend Building with a big breakfast then began the run at 11 a.m. Sixty riders started out the run, but several gave up in the rain while passing through Alachua. (The organizers said the run would proceed rain or shine and the riders got a little bit of both.). Riders returned to Lake Butler and gathered back at the starting point to enjoy live music and a lunch of pulled pork and fixings.
Barton totaled up the money raised and presented a check for the full amount, $2,000, to Lake Butler Hospital to put in with the funds raised at their 5K Walk on Sept. 24, 2022 and through the sale of “In Memory of” signs.
“We had a good time, honored some brave people and did a little good for the future,” Barton said. “It was a good day with a better than average participation and everyone said they had a good time.”
