Bayou riders hold benefit for toddler

The Bayou Country Riders, a local motorcycle-riding club, is holding its inaugural Ride for St. Jude Children Research Hospital March 30, based at Bourbon Hall in New Iberia. The event will also benefit local 2-year-old Maddox Citrano, who in January was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye-cancer.

His eye was removed at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in February. He will have to go back every six to eight weeks to get check-ups until he is an adult.

The Ride for St. Jude is a poker run. In a poker run, cars and bikes travel between five different points, drawing a card at each point. At the end of the run, the person with the highest hand wins.

Walter J. Derouen Jr., president of the club and organizer of the benefit, said he hopes for a turnout of 80 to 120 motorcycles and cars. If the turnout is that large, he said the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department will escort riders out of the town, eliminating the need to stop at red lights.

“I think it’s gonna be pretty big,” Derouen said. “We’re gonna be barbecuing, just having a good time, really.”

Registration for the run begins at 8 a.m., and the ride starts at 10 a.m. The fee is $20 per vehicle and $10 for each additional hand. Those who participate in the poker run receive a free plate lunch.

Those who don’t take part in the poker run can begin buying barbecue plate lunches for $5 at 10 a.m. at Bourbon Hall, Derouen said.

There also will be a raffle and performances by The Ross Paul Band and Seasoned Soul.

Wells Cornette, with Top Gun Motorcycle School, will perform and do tricks and stunts on his motorcycle. He also will be giving tips on how to ride and control a motorcycle.

“It’s pretty fun to watch him do,” Derouen said. “He does it on a big ol’ Harley Davidson, which is a big heavy bike. He makes it looks like it’s a regular bicycle.”

As Mayor Hilda Curry will be unable to attend the event, Mayor Pro-Tem Freddie DeCourt said he will proclaim the day “Maddox Citrano Day” and present the family with keys to the city.

The event will be held rain or shine, under tents in case of rain, said Derouen.

Those interested in participating or donating may call Derouen at 884-5282 or donate directly to the “Benefit of Maddox” account, also under the name “Walter Derouen,” at IberiaBank.

The Riders will donate 20 percent of the proceeds to New Iberia resident Amy Citrano to help with loss of income associated with cancer treatment for Maddox.

Maddox has to have checkups at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., every six to eight weeks to make sure his other eye stays cancer-free, said his mother. Maddox’s brother and fraternal twin Dominik will need to be checked every 12 weeks.

Soon after Maddox was diagnosed, Citrano’s sister and two of her friends started collecting money for a raffle to help with expenses associated with the treatment. Citrano is a cosmetologist, but has been a full-time mom ever since Maddox and Dominik were born. She will begin working again in April.

Citrano said she would like to plan other benefits for Maddox and St. Jude, such as a walk and events for families.

Eighty percent of the proceeds from the poker run will go to St. Jude’s hospital, which pays treatment, lodging and travel costs for patients.

Citrano said she thanks everyone for their support and prayers.