NORTHUMBERLAND -- Five years after 4-year-old Marlee Reed was brutally beaten to death by her stepfather, Brentt Sherwood, her grandparents are continuing the mission of spreading awareness about the real and horrible truth of child abuse.
The fifth annual Marlee Reed Memorial Ride will be held Sunday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at American Legion Post 44, Route 11.
"We're trying to get the awareness out there about child abuse," said Melvin Reed, Marlee's grandfather. "A lot of people don't like to even realize the problem exists. It's not a nice thing to think about."
But thinking about Marlee's case may be a solution to the growing problem, Reed said. "We want to prevent something like that from happening again."
Melvin and his wife, Donna, will ride their motorcycle in the event, which drew 300 participants one year. And each year, about $2,000 is raised to benefit the Marlee Reed Memorial Fund, the Child Advocacy Center and the Susquehanna Valley Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse.
The bikers group provides its services to the Reeds, through the memorial fund, to help kids who are caught in the legal system, Reed said.
"We go to court with them when they need to go to court, to let them know they are not alone," he said. Once a year, they also take a group of kids to Knoebels Amusement Resort near Elysburg. "They seem to really enjoy that. It gives them a sense that somebody cares about them, instead of being out there in the middle of nowhere, alone. So far, there are quite a few kids I think we turned things around for," he said.
The money collected and then allocated to the Child Advocacy Center helps the organization offset the cost of services provided to children, said Melissa Hummel, coordinator.
"Since their group began, they have been a supporter of the advocacy center," she said. "They have done a lot of great things -- not just for us, but for the community in general."
This year, the ride will be 105 miles long, beginning in Northumberland, then going to the cemetery in Kulpmont, where Marlee is buried, and ending at the Sunbury Social Club. Midway, participants will take a break at the PPL grounds near Washingtonville.
Registration for the ride will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Cost is $5 per person and $10 maximum for vehicles. Cars are welcome. T-shirts are $12, and Boyd's Bears are $10.
Drawings for a 50/50 raffle and Chinese auction will be held at 4 p.m. at the Sunbury Social Club pavilion. Participants do not have to be present to win. Prizes are donated by local businesses and friends. Pulled pork sandwiches and chips will be available for $6.
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Child abuse: Grandparents on mission
Marlee Reed Memorial Ride draws attention to child abuse
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