By Sue Moore
It takes a village to care about Chad “Bubba” Hildebrand. He died at age 36 in 2008. Shortly after, a foundation was started to celebrate his legacy with events taking place throughout the years, according to his mother, Kathy McCormick. The Bubs 73 Foundation was created to give back to the young people of Vicksburg, she says.
The 7th annual Benefit Bike Ride to raise funds for his foundation is set for Saturday, May 9 at high noon. “There will be upwards of 200 bike riders leaving from the Vault parking lot, depending upon the weather,” McCormick believes. “People in the community come just to watch these beautiful machines string out across the back roads, on their secret destination around Three Rivers, Mendon, and Vicksburg. We just want to make sure that the bikers’ parking area stays in a straight line out to the open field in front of Family Fare, to leave room for customers to get in and out of their store.”
Two family friends of Bubba’s, Jim Barnes, and Al Balog, volunteer as road captains and planed the route this year, with two stops along the way for food and camaraderie. The return to the Vault is slated for approximately 4:30 p.m. with Dani Jamerson’s band headlining the entertainment beginning at 6 p.m.
Bubba participated in Vicksburg High School athletics, particularly football, where he wore number 73 on his uniform. Herode bikes a lot, and so does his mother Kathy. His brother Cy Hildebrand who lives in Indianapolis, comes back often to help with other events in Bubba’s name. They also sponsor a cribbage tournament, a euchre tournament, and a golf outing to raise funds. All of the money has gone back into Vicksburg to help kids, according to McCormick. They have supported the Back Pack program, South County Community Services, Vicksburg Little League and Rocket football, the Hearty Hustle, Relay for Life, Sunset Lake Elementary walking track, and especially two scholarships in Hildebrand’s name for deserving high school seniors. The Benefit Ride usually raises $3,000 to $4,000 in registration fees.
Food for the evening meal has been donated by Bold Restaurant in Texas Corners, by Shane Sheldon who was a friend of Bubba’s, his mother reports. The Vault has also stepped up with lots of donations for the event she says. Also taking place that day in Vicksburg is the Hearty Hustle, which will end before the bikes roar out of the village.