The Story Behind the Motorcycles at the Walk for Down Syndrome

If you’ve ever been to the Walk for Down Syndrome in Bismarck, you’ve probably heard the low rumble of motorcycle engines toward the starting line. This meaningful tradition represents something powerful: community and belonging. That story begins with the Our Place Motorcycle Club (OPMC).
 
Where it Started 
Nearly a decade ago, members of OPMC partnered with Designer Genes of North Dakota to support something life-changing, the Bikers 4 Bikers fundraiser. This event was created to help raise funds for the iCan Bike Camp, which has been brought to the Bismarck area biannually since 2012. 

The iCan Bike camp helps individuals with disabilities learn how to ride a two-wheel bicycle using specialized bikes and coaching. Over the course of a week, riders build balance, confidence, and independence. The hope is that by the end of the 5 days, individuals are able to ride a bike on their own.  
 
For many participants it’s more than just learning to ride a bike. It means keeping up with siblings, riding with friends, exploring the neighborhood, and feeling the independence that so many of us remember from our first bike ride. 
 
Since the beginning of the partnership, OPMC has hosted the Bikers 4 Bikers fundraiser, helping raise nearly $49,000 across nine events to bring the iCan Bike Camp to Bismarck. The camp, held every other year in partnership with the Anne Carlsen Center and Bismarck Parks and Recreation, costs over $11,000 to host each camp. 
 
Thanks to this incredible community support, riders from age 8 to adult have learned to ride—including one Bismarck participant who achieved that milestone at 47 years old. ​​

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From Fundraiser to Walk Tradition  
Over time, the partnership grew into something even more unique. The motorcyclists that once gathered to fundraise became part of a beloved Walk for Down Syndrome tradition. 
 
Each year, members of the OPMC help kick off the Walk by riding the first loop of the route, leading the way as families and teams prepare to walk behind them. 
 
It’s a powerful moment, engines rumbling, families cheering, and a visual reminder that our community rides together in support of individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities. 
 
Celebrating a Milestone 
This year, we are celebrating the 10th Annual Bikers 4 Bikers Fundraiser. To celebrate, OPMC is inviting the community to take part in the tradition in a fun way. For the 2026 Walk for Down Syndrome, 10 lucky individuals, ages 8 years old and up, will have the chance to ride on the back of a motorcycle during the first lap of the walk. 
 
It’s a fun experience and a way to connect the excitement of the walk with the mission that started it all. 
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Those rides will be awarded at the Bikers 4 Bikers Fundraiser. From now until April 10th, we are offering an opportunity to join in the fun, all you have to do is make a donation to receive a ticket.  

If you are interested in making a donation, or learning more about how to get involved with the raffle, please email Kendra at [email protected] or call 701-751-2071. 

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​​Bikers 4 Bikers Fundraiser

Bismarck Elks Lodge, 900 S. Washington St., Bismarck 
Saturday, April 11, 2026 
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.  

The event is open to the community and will include: 
A bake sale 
Lunch (free-will donation) 
A silent auction 
And the chance to win one of the 10 motorcycle rides at the 2026 Walk for Down Syndrome  
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Every dollar raised helps bring the iCan Bike Camp back to Bismarck in the summer of 2027, giving individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience the independence and joy that comes with riding a two-wheel bike. 
 
Want to Ride with Us?  
For ten years, the Our Place Motorcycle Club and Designer Genes of North Dakota have been riding tandem to support something big. 
We are helping riders gain confidence, 
Helping families celebrate milestones, 
And helping our community belong.