You could feel the excitement in the air as the riders waited for zero hour when the kickstands go up and the Iron Horses could be set free. The 7^th Annual Rosarito Harley Charity Run was about to get under way. We gathered at the usual place (formerly Camacho’s) but there is nothing usual about this ride. Becoming one of Southern California’s premier Charity Events, The Rosarito Harley Run is one of the largest, longest, most exciting,  and safest rides. This is one that is anticipated throughout the year. Unlike most of the charity rides where the destination is the event, for this particular run the event is the ride.  We gather together, ride together, party together and come home together. Together is a very strong yet comforting word which describes the Rosarito Harley Run perfectly. It’s like going to a family reunion yet you're not part of the family when you get there, but you are when you leave!

Starting when “Rolling Deep 4 Charities” founder Martin Resendez arrived with his fearless and loyal group of escorts called the Guardians, who blocked traffic and kept the pack safe, you could feel everyone start to get anxious. As soon as the greetings were finished, the maps handed out and the blessing said, we were ready to go. Under the watchful eye of the Guardians, the pack started to move. Trickling out of the parking lot like a stream becoming a river… conquering the freeway toward their first stop in Temecula. Seeing so many bikes in one pack, a mile long at least was visually stunning but the knuckleheads in their cars are kept at a distance by the guardians. The pack reach Temecula to refuel, regroup and socialize about the first leg of the ride. Then it was off to Sweetwater Harley to register, eat, and add to the pack. At exactly noon sirens blared and engines roared as the pack was off to their final stop before the border where an escort of Federal Police and more Harley Brothers from Mexico waited to complete the pack. From the border, the Tijuana riders helped the Federale’s safely get the pack to Rosarito as the guardians melted back into the pack having completed their duties.

Upon arriving in Rosarito, our engines revved sounded like fire-works as the pack is greeted by more Rosarito Run family and directed where to place their iron horses, which were guarded 24 hours a day by the Rosarito police and the Papa’s and Beer security. As always, there were no bikes stolen. This is usually a major concern for any bike event, but Martin goes to great lengths to protect the bikes and the integrity of the run. Now that the bikes were safely stowed, it was time to hit Papa’s and Beer which was already jumping. Since this was Papa’s & Beer’s 35 Anniversary, there were even more partiers than usual. Needless to say, the party literally didn’t stop until dawn. It was an amazing time where the riders let loose, danced, drank and lived it up in Mexico just the way they should. The Wet t-shirt contest was "off the hook" as usual as were the Butt Bongo, Big Arms' Big Belly and the tattoo contests.

The truth about the Rosarito Harley Run isn’t just that there’s an amazing ride to Mexico, Escorts to and from the borders, beautiful women everywhere and beer flowing like water…  it’s really about the kids in need in Baja Mexico.  While everyone was having a great time at the party, the staff was still working hard getting everything ready to be handed out to the 500 kids that would be brought the following day from all over to receive a bike, skateboard, backpack or any number of gifts that were brought for them. With the help of DIF, (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) a wonderful organization that helps kids everywhere, the kids were also given clothes, school supplies, shoes, toys, and hygiene products which were desperately needed. This year Martin Resendez was awarded a pin by DIF. The pin awared to Martin Resendez is usually reserved for city officials and other distinguished honorees.

As every great humanitarian story goes, that was not the end… This year Irma Carrillo, a Los Angeles chef, personally drove down and donated her time and resources to provide tacos to over 500 children. Additionally, after the 6 truck loads of gifts were handed out, a large ice cream truck was recruited and brought into the compound as the kids lost their little Mexican minds and made a beeline for the truck. It actually took a couple of hours but every kid got some ice cream along with everything else they had received. I even saw an elderly couple enjoying a couple of cones as no one is ever turned away!

This is such an amazing event and there have been thousands of kids helped throughout the years because of it. I would like to thank everyone who helped out, donated gifts, donated money and most importantly, donated their time.  I especially want to thank Martin and Sonia Resendez for creating the Rosarito Harley Run and for giving everything they have including their hearts to help the less fortunate.  You are all angels to me…

Written by: Rick Delgado

Rosarito Beach Harley Run- 2012

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Ride safe & God Bless

Thank you for your continued support,