Ninth annual Rumble the Rockies to be held on July 20

The annual Rumble in the Rockies motorcycle run is set to take place on Saturday, July 20.

Dirk Stucki, one of the organizers for the event, said Rumble in the Rockies is a charity run where a group of motorcycle riders come together to raise money to buy coats for people in need in the winter.

"All the riders pay to come and join us and buy the raffle tickets," he said. "We have a program set up where families that need coats come, and we buy them every year."

The event draws in numerous riders from all over the region. They have participants from other parts of Idaho as far as Coeur d'Alene and even as far as Utah and Arizona.

"We average 40 to 50 bikes," Stucki said. "You're talking 50 to 60 people around there every year."

The number of participants makes it so Stucki is able to buy plenty of coats during the fall and winter months.

"We've bought as few as 60 and up to 100," he said.

Stucki said he got the idea to start this event when he noticed a lot of families in the area struggling at Christmas time. He said many families couldn't afford coats, presents or any kind of decorations.

"We saw a couple families that couldn't afford Christmas," he said. "We got some people together and started helping people out."

Stucki said the best part about the event is the motorcycle ride everyone gets to go on. This year will be between 180 and 200 miles. He also looks forward to interacting with everyone participating.

"We've got people coming from everywhere," he said.

Rumble the Rockies will start at the Bear Lake County Fire Station in Liberty west of Montpelier. The ride will go through Soda Springs, Freedom and Afton before going back to the fire station where the raffle will take place.

"It takes from around 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. so it's pretty much all day," Stucki said.

Stucki expressed gratitude for everyone who participates in Rumble the Rockies and helping them raise money for people in need.

"We do it every year, and everyone's been really genuine to help out," he said.

Rumble the Rockies will be held on Saturday, July 20. It will start at the Bear Lake County Fire Station at 10 a.m. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 for one ticket up to $50 for 75 tickets.

Participants are asked to come early. Raffle tickets will be on sale from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

More information about Rumble the Rockies can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/rumbletherockies/?_rdr&checkpoint_src=any .