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Backseat - From Where I SitOctober 2006 By: Michelle Yes Virginia There is A Santa ClausOne of the joys I have experienced writing the “Back Seat” over the years is meeting some really great people. From time to time I also get to learn a few secrets like the fact that Santa Claus is real - and he lives just outside of Charlottesville. Disguised as a mild-mannered biker known affectionately as “Papa” (as in Papa Smurf), Wayne Bryant works along with his fellow Southern Cruisers members to bring joy and comfort to those in need. Particularly close to his heart is the Patrick Henry Girls Home in Rustburg, VA, a home for neglected and abused children which houses up to 12 girls between the ages of 6 and 17. The home provides a structured family environment. Girls are supported by the loving care of a married couple as they rebuild their lives through day to day activities. Many are experiencing stability for the first time in their young lives. For the past 5 years, Papa, his wife Lisa, his daughter Samantha, and his fellow bikers help ensure that many of the girl’s needs are met. As any parent knows, children’s expenses occur all year long. There is always a need for the basics such as shoes and jeans along with special occasion expenses like prom, birthdays and graduation. However, at Christmastime needs are highlighted. To make sure the girls feel loved and special during this time of year, Papa, just like the real Santa Claus, is “making a list and checking it twice”. This list is then extended to the community for donations for each girl based on their individual needs. Papa happily reports that they have never failed to complete each girl’s list. The aid the girl’s have received helps contribute to the overall success of the program. Currently, two of the girls are full-time college students with at least a 3.5 GPA. In a world filled with so many sad statistics of children from dysfunctional homes, there is a ray of hope. Papa is a recently appointed Virginia State Officer of the Southern Cruisers, a family oriented motorcycle organization. This keeps him very busy. However, Papa, along with Charlottesville Chapter96 and all of the Virginia Southern Cruisers, continues to do everything possible to ensure “his girls” are taken care of. When asked about the other charities that the Charlottesville Southern Cruisers support, Papa begins to recite a long list from organizing and participating in Poker Runs to raise funds for various charities and individuals in need, providing school supplies for the victims of Katrina, conducting Teddy Bear Runs, to providing escort support to bicyclists during an MDA charity ride. When discussing this particular event, Papa suddenly got a gleam in his eye as he confessed that he got great pleasure in cruising blaring his radio and cruising along next to his struggling bicyclist brothers. Papa enjoys mixing his playful nature along with his charitable work. It was this combination that led this unlikely candidate to become a pin-up boy in the Virginia Motorcyclists Against Cancer calendar several years ago. Yes, Papa found time to add one more title to his resume – he is one of the “Merry Men of May”. Despite his almost celebrity status as an “off-centerfold” Papa remains humble. Though he enjoys joking and laughing about his escapades and can tell a war story better than most, he wants to make sure that he does not overshadow any of the causes he supports. After one too many questions about his history, he gently corrects me by saying “It ain’t about me.” He is also quick to point out that he doesn’t do it alone. Though he may not be giant in stature (his profile on the Southern Cruisers page lists his height as 5’4”), he more than makes up for it with his big heart. He lives by his motto of “treat others as you would like to be treated.” Whether you need to raise funds or learn how to set up a charity event, Papa is a great resource and an even better friend - just ask the girls at the Rustburg Home. For more information of Southern Cruisers visit: www.southerncruisers.net
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