Local motorcycle club, Brothers Crew MC
of Maine, was recently recognized by Portland’s Channel 13 for feeding over 900
families in Maine on Thanksgiving Day. Based in Windham with a focus on
honoring all fallen brothers, military or otherwise, Brothers Crew MC not only
feeds the hungry at Thanksgiving and provides gifts to families in need at
Christmas that include substantial donations to Preble Street Resource Center,
they also offer help and provide necessities to children with disabilities,
homeless families, military families as well as providing assistance to abused
women and children. Additionally, the organization delivers backpacks filled
with needed school supplies for students to local elementary schools.
Bayside Learning Community in Portland
is one of the local schools that has been and is a recipient of the goodwill
provided by the club. “They put so much effort in gift giving,” stated Jen
Searway, the school’s director. “When they provided the backpacks filled with
school supplies, the bags did not contain generic items. Instead, they took the
time to ask what was needed most by individual students and that is what they
supplied. Brothers Crew MC truly gives unconditionally and for the right
reasons.” Searway also stated that this motorcycle club is a prime example of
paying it forward.
Obviously, one should not be fooled by
this group of leather wearing, tattooed, bike riding brotherhood of rugged and
hardworking men. Underneath what might seem a rough and intimidating exterior
beats huge hearts of tenderness that spread love, kindness, respect, honor and
peace in one small part of the world that has rippling and everlasting effects.
Steven Huntington of Windham, president and
founder of Brothers Crew MC, never set out to create a motorcycle club. It
definitely was not his intention to create an organization with the mission to
relieve a little suffering for others. It all began because he, himself, was
suffering from the depths of grief after losing someone he deeply loved.
Huntington’s brother, Charles “Chucky” Huntington, died at the age of 42 on
November 12, 2012. “He was everything to me,” Huntington explained as he told
his brother’s story and the “accidental” creation of Brothers Crew MC.
Chucky was a survivor despite all odds.
Fifteen years ago in an unfortunate circumstance, Chucky was shot in between
the eyes and the bullet’s shrapnel scattered throughout the brain. He was
immediately taken to Maine Medical Center where the family was told the odds of
survival were slim. The surgeon explained he would do his best to remove as
much of the shrapnel as possible but if Chucky did survive the surgery, he would
never walk or talk again and most likely remain in a vegetative state.
After surgery, Chucky was placed on life
support for four weeks, at which time, the ventilator was disconnected. Miraculously,
not only did Chucky survive but he lived a full and productive life. However,
as he grew older, the shrapnel that could not be removed from his brain during
surgery began to shift. As it did, Chucky slowly reverted back to the young
mind of an eighteen-year-old. Chucky loved motorcycles and it was his dream to
be a part of a brotherhood. However, due to his disabilities, driving a motorcycle
and thus being a part of a motorcycle club would never be a dream realized.
Unfortunately, Chucky’s life came to an abrupt end when he choked and aspirated
while eating.
“I cried every day for months after his
death,” Huntington said, recalling the moment his grief hit an all-time low.
However, it was within that deep grief of death that Brothers Crew MC was
unknowingly given birth. “One day I decided to honor my brother and his wish to
become a part of a brotherhood by simply drawing a sketch of a patch that I
would put on the back of my leather jacket. That’s all I wanted to do was to
honor my brother and his dream. I spent a lot of time working on that sketch trying
to get it just right, eventually working with a tattoo artist to assist me in
perfecting it.”
Within a month, Huntington had his patch
and it was time for him to ride. Huntington asked two of his friends to join
him and the three rode together on a warm spring day in 2013. “Then, the word
got around,” Huntington expressed with amazement, “Before I knew it, other
friends wanted to join in memory of my brother. Quickly, two friends became
four, four friends became eight and eight became twelve. It just kept growing
without any effort from me.” Within six months after that original ride, there
were approximately 20 men who wanted to be a part of this unofficial motorcycle
club.
“As it continued to grow, we decided to
become an official club with the intention to honor all brothers who have
passed and, in doing so, relieve a little suffering in the world,” Huntington
explained. That fall, approximately six months later and about a year after his
brother’s death, Brothers Crew MC was born and became an official organization.
Membership requires a series of steps to
include 1. Contacting the President, 2. Invitation to “hang out” with the group
3. Becoming a prospect 4. Full acceptance that includes the patch. All members
must pass a background check as well as a drug free test and be non-violent
members of society.
Members come from all walks of life and
join for various reasons. “I have known Steve all my life and I had been
following him and his new motorcycle club on Facebook,” Joe Mulkern of
Westbrook explained. “I saw all the good they were doing and thought to myself,
‘What a feeling that must be to help others. I want to be a part of that,’”
Mulkern continued. “If I would have known how this group would have grown and
become what they are today, I would have joined in the beginning.”
Others join for the structure. “I was
looking for a traditional and regimented motorcycle group, where you earn your
role as a member,” Matt LaBranche stated. LaBranche’s need for structure most
likely came from being a veteran in the armed services, serving in Iraq in
2003-2004. “I know the US entering into the Iraq War was controversial, but I
believe we were there doing God’s work, eliminating a dictator who was killing
women and children.”
LaBranche’s preference for structure is what led him to
Brothers Crew MC. His reflective nature also indicates that he still gets to do
“God’s work.”
Brothers Crew MC is gearing up for the
holiday season. For those who wish to spread some joy and relieve a little
suffering in a sometimes challenging world, contact Huntington at
brothercrewmc.com/author/brotherscrewmc to make a donation. Not only will one
honor those who live in our memory but those who still live. For Huntington, he
does his work “in memory of my Brother 42 and our Brother Alex Paradis Chubs 22*.”
*This article is dedicated with honor to
the recent passing of a Brothers Crew MC member, 22- year -old Alex Paradis. His
loyalty and enthusiasm toward the goodwill of the club was outstanding and his
passion and commitment for life will be missed.
From learning toys for toddlers to make up for teens, the
officers worked with one another to find the best gifts for the children they
were shopping for. In past years, the officers were given a dollar amount and
they picked out items for a variety of children. This year, administrative
assistant Sue Rogers, gave each officer a sheet of paper with an age and
suggestions for gifts that child would love to see under their tree. So as the
officers were shopping, they had a specific child in mind. 
The fundraising for their programs come from solicitation
calls in the beginning of the year and a show they put on. This year on
February 25, Windham Police Department will introduce the community to Audio
Body, a musical performance duo similar to the Blue Man Group. With the money
raised, the officers as a whole are able to donate to local charities, sports
teams and sponsor officers or someone with a connection to the department as
they participate in walks like the Dempsey Challenge and cancer walks. 
“We donate to different veteran groups, team like little
league who went to Nationals and special circumstances like cancer diagnosis or
a kid who needs a physical to play sports. It’s all done quietly,” said officer
Jim Cook. 
“The best part is when people come up to give you money,”
said officer Gene Gallant. 
Good will breeds good will. Dunkin Donuts in Walmart
offered to give each officer a free coffee for the good work they were doing.
Although few took them up on the offer, it was the thought that counted. 
