Biker benefit raises $35K for toddler flood victim's family

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Though he was only two years old, little Preston Slade Crawford already had a motorcycle waiting for him, thanks to his grandparents, both long-time motorcyclists. And he knew which bike it was, says his grandmother, Pat Crawford.

But "Scooter" never had the chance to ride the motorcycle. He was swept from his father's arms and into flood waters in September.

Since then, the Crawford family has seen an outpouring of support from the Carrollton community and from strangers around the country. On Saturday, hundreds more pitched in for a benefit for the little boy's parents -- Craig and B ridgett Crawford -- and his one-year-old brother, who lost everything in the flood. At the end of the day, an estimated $35,000 was raised.

"It's not going to bring Slade back to us, but it will keep the kids from suffering," Crawford said.

Crawford and her husband, J.C., have been riding motorcycles for more than 30 years, she said. Friends that own a local shop, Southern Steel Cycles, helped organize a fund-raising event. Friends at Harley-Davidson of Atlanta, where J.C. Crawford works, wanted to help, too.

With a little planning, a motorcycle ride with around 300 bikers was organized, along with raffles and other fund-raisers.

"The Crawford family will forever be indebted," Pat Crawford said. "There's not enough ‘thank you's' and words in the vocabulary to express it."

"This has been a nightmare for us. A nightmare," Pat Crawford said.

Rick Cope of Smyrna said the story of the little boy's death was too must to take.

"I had never met these people," Cope said. "But I have a granddaughter the same age and it broke my heart."

Cope says the biker community often gets a bad reputation for the long hair and tattoos. But when it's time to help people in need, the motorcycle enthusiasts are happy to help.

"The motorcycle community, and the Carrollton community, came together to help these kids rebuild their lives, literally from the ground up," Cope said.

As a motorcyclist herself, Pat Crawford says bikers are often misunderstood. But the event Saturday shows how caring people can be.

Because their mobile home was destroyed in the flood, a new home is already being built for the Crawfords. But the money raised Saturday will help put the finishing touches on the new house, which the family hopes to move in to by Christmas.

Pat Crawford says she hopes other grandparents and parents can learn something from the tragedy her family has faced.

"Love them every day like it's their last," she said. "You don't ever know that night what Mother Nature is going to throw at you."