67 www. ReadMPM. com | www.MountPl easantMagaz i ne. com | www.MountPl easantPodcas t . com For people who ride motorcycles, the activity can be a freeing, almost mystical experience, providing an escape from hectic daily lives. The Charleston area is filled with individuals who not only love riding, but also use their pastime to support local philanthropic causes. Mount Pleasant Magazine was fortunate to hear a few stories. PRETTY IN PINK Charleston native and James Island resident Kelly Carroll has been riding motorcycles her entire life. Carroll has owned a 2007 Sportster she dubbed “Sanity” and a 2014 Softtail Slim. She loves the “sense of freedom” she gets from riding. “It’s fun. It’s therapeutic,” said Carroll. Her favorite rides involve traveling from Charleston to Murrells Inlet and taking the backroads to places like Harleyville, where it’s tranquil. Carroll has worked at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston for the past nine years, and previously spent three years as events coordinator and marketing director of Low Country Harley-Davidson. She has organized several fundraising events, including benefits for Share our Suzy Lowcountry, which raises money to support breast cancer patients. Carroll said it is one of the top five biggest charity rides in the Lowcountry. Pre-pandemic, she helped coordinate the Steel Pony Charity Ride & Car Show, a fundraiser for the Lowcountry Firefighter Support Team. Carroll has held additional charity events to assist women battling breast cancer, such as “Paint it Pink,” and “Scooters for Hooters.” Speaking to the cause, Carroll mused, “I think because I’m a girl, breast cancer is close to my heart.” She knows people who have been impacted by the disease and once experienced a scare herself. Pink also happens to be her favorite color, and these events let her share that fondness with some riders less accustomed to wearing it. “It’s fun to put a bunch of men in pink,” quipped Carroll. Carroll, who is also involved in advocating for homeless veterans and soldiers serving overseas, prefers working with local grassroots organizations so she can see where the money is going and witness its effects firsthand. To get involved with one of her charity events, email Carroll at wadmalawgirls@yahoo.com. Riding for a Cause Local Motorcyclists Give Back Through Their Hobby BY COL I N MCCANDLESS feature From l e f t to r i ght : Ke l l y Car ro l l , Tony Tone l i s , Steve Water s , John Be l l . Photo by Mar k S ta f f .
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