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  • A billboard on the U.S. 50 bypass thanks supporters and remembers the life of Memphis Riker, who died on April 23. Two events are scheduled this weekend for a scholarship in Riker’s name. By Nate Smith

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June 8, 2012

Events slated to honor Riker

By Nate Smith Washington Times Herald

WASHINGTON — Two events scheduled for this weekend will honor Memphis Riker, the 9-year-old son of Thomas Riker of Washington and Bobbie Adams of Vincennes, who lost his life April 23 to a lung infection after fighting bone and lung cancer.

“He would’ve been 10 on June 11,” said his grandmother, Tommi Hamilton, who explained the events were originally planned as fund raisers to help with medical and related expenses. “A softball tourney and bike ride were planned for his birthday ... after his death, we made it a memorial.”

Proceeds from the events will go to a scholarship fund in Riker’s name to benefit students at South Knox, where Riker attended school. Hamilton said the boy’s mother set up the fund with leftover money previously raised for Riker’s health care costs.

To build on the scholarship fund, a double-elimination co-ed softball tournament will begin at 7 p.m. today at the Blue Jeans Center, 1242 Main St., Monroe City. There will be three games tonight, according to organizer Jill Rauh, who is Adams’ cousin. Play will begin again at 9 a.m. Saturday and continue until there’s a winner.

“It’s gonna be a long day,” Rauh said. “There are 12 teams. I had one team drop out, so I have one spot left. Cost is $150 per team.

“We also have ‘In Memory of Memphis’ T-shirts available, and proceeds from that go to the scholarship fund, also.”

She said T-shirts will be available at the tournament, and more can be ordered if they run out of any sizes. They’re $10 each.

Also on Saturday, a Memphis Riker Memorial Motorcycle Ride will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Blue Jeans Center. There’s no registration, according to Hamilton, but donations will be accepted for the scholarship fund.

“People can meet us at the Blue Jean Center or meet us along the way,” said Hamilton, adding that if people want to participate and can’t ride, they can follow the motorcycles in a vehicle.

“The Daviess County Sheriff’s Department is escorting us all the way through. It’s about a two-hour ride.”

The route will be: SR 61E to SR 241S in Decker, then to U.S. 41S to SR 56E at Hazelton and on to Petersburg. There will be a break at the Casey’s General Store in Petersburg before riders continue on SR 57N to SR 61S at Pike Central High School. From there, the riders will proceed to SR 56E in Otwell and on to SR 257N and from there to U.S. 50N at Washington, then loop back around to SR 241S and finish back at the Blue Jeans Center.

The route will pass a billboard in Memphis Riker’s memory on the U.S. 50 bypass. The billboard, on the north side of the highway near the railroad overpass, thanks people for their support during Riker’s cancer battle.

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