Need an excuse to take that motorcycle out of the garage to ride it? Well, ride on over to LaPlace this Sunday to have a good time for a bike run that’s helping a great cause.

The Greater New Orleans Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit organization that provides horse-assisted activities for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Every year, GNOTRC has a fundraiser to raise money for the riding center called “Harley for Horses.” It’s a motorcycle run that is followed by music, food, drinks, door prizes and an auction. This year, Harley for Horses will be on Sunday, April 17, beginning at the LaPlace Shell Travel Center on Highway 51 next to Interstate 10 at

11 a.m. Pre-registration begins at 9 a.m. Participants will ride their motorcycles to Fred’s on the River in Port Vincent, where there will be lunch available for everyone. Then, they will arrive at the final destination – Cadillac’s Rock ‘n’ Country Saloon in LaPlace – to enjoy the music of local band Sac-a-lait. There will, also,

be door prizes and an auction. Riders and their passengers get in free at Cadillac’s. Non-riders are invited to join the festivities for a small cover fee.

GNOTRC desperately needs help to make this the biggest and best fundraiser ever. Riding fees for the individuals who take part in the therapeutic riding are $25, but that doesn’t cover all costs, even with GNOTRC’s staff that consists of only volunteers who love working with the students as much as they do with the horses.

So come out to the LaPlace Travel Center to enjoy a nice bike run and stay for the festivities afterwards at Cadillac’s. Sac-a-lait will be performing at Cadillac’s for approximately 2:30 p.m., immediately following the bike run. For more information or to register, go to www.gnotrc.com.