Local dealership sponsors Cancer Aware Harley Dare

Brian Wians and Mike Taylor of McClure, Ill., will be riding their Harley Davidson motorcycles non-stop covering 1,000 miles in 24 hours in a challenge to raise awareness for cancer.

The two riders will hold a news conference & send off event Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Bootheel Harley Davidson in Scott City as they begin their journey to Naples, Fla.

The two men will then travel through the Florida Everglades to Miami, Key West an Daytona spreading the word along the ride.

Bootheel Harley Davidson owner Rob Hocking said with cancer directly affecting many families of Bootheel employees, he was motivated to present an extreme challenge to local riders.

The riders will be on two of Harley's most bare-bones models, without windshields, air ride or protection from the elements.

Brian Winans said he even had to mount an auxiliary gas tank on his bike to prepare for the trip.

"We will be suffering through this trip. No doubt about it. We're going to be in the elements, we're going to get rained on, we're going to get cold. But that is a small amount of suffering compared to what the average cancer patient goes through on a daily basis," Winans said. "That's how we are looking at it and that's what is going to get us through."

While the trip does coencide with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the trip is designed to raise awareness and funds for those battling all types of cancer.

Bootheel will track the men's trip on its Facebook page for those who want to follow the riders progress. Check here for updates: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Black-Diamonds-Bootheel-Harley-Davidson/1516029...