Caring Crew: Local bikers doing all they can to put an end to bullying

A group of DeKalb area bikers are putting on their leather vests, getting on their motorcycles and rallying together for a unique cause: anti-bullying.

Illinois Bikers against Bullying’s DeKalb Area Crew formed in February and has about 15 members. The nonprofit organization has about 150 members statewide in 11 areas.

Nick Lohenis, head of the DeKalb Area Crew, said the anti-bullying group is definitely needed.

“Bullying is everywhere these days,” he said. “You can’t get away from getting bullied. Even when you’re at home, you have a cell phone and online accounts.

“Our main focus is not to go after the bully or beat them up. We’re just a group of like-minded people who believe that bullying isn’t right. We want to stick up for these kids. We want them to know that there’s help, they’re not in it alone,” he said.

Families can reach out to the crew to be assigned a sponsor, similar to a big brother or a big sister. The DeKalb Area Crew has sponsored four children in DeKalb County and two in other areas.

Lohenis said that just being there to support people who are being bullied “makes a world of difference.”

“When they see us all roll up, their whole demeanor changes,” he said. “They get happy and giddy, they have a huge smile on their face. Knowing that we’re there and we care is enough.”

To help families suffering from bullying, the DeKalb Area Crew is hosting a cruise night from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 27, at Lions Community Park, 271 S. Birch St. in Waterman. The event will feature cars, trucks, bikes and tractors, with food for sale from The Filthy Hog Food Truck. There will be a DJ and a raffle from noon to 4 p.m.

With the proceeds from the event, the crew hopes to take the people they sponsor, as well as their families, on day trips and outings, possibly to Six Flags.

The Dirty Bird Chicken Joint, 630 Plaza Drive, Suite 5, in Sycamore, is collecting jean jackets to award each person sponsored during a welcoming ceremony.

“The jean jackets help break the ice and let them know that they’re a part of our group, they have us on their side,” said Otis Circelli, road captain of the DeKalb Area Crew.

“The jean jackets have different patches: ‘Say No to Bullying,’ ‘Illinois Bikers against Bullying’ and patches that resonate with the child, things like Star Wars, art or science. Each jacket is unique to that child, it’s theirs to keep,” he said.

Anyone, whether they have a motorcycle or not, can be a part of Illinois Bikers against Bullying. Every member receives a background check before joining a crew.

The organization mostly helps children, but there is no age limit as to who can be helped, because bullying affects people of every age.

Circelli remembers how difficult it was to have a child being bullied.

“Even as an adult, as a parent, you’re not sure what to do, who to go to, what you can do to help,” he said. “We’re there to help, even when nobody else is. I think families are taken a bit aback by the amount of support they receive. We can stop by when they’re having a bad day. We can support them, talk to them, let them vent. Our goal is to make things just a little bit better.”

Jason Grommes, vice president of the DeKalb Area Crew, became involved after Lohenis told him about the group.

“My stepkids have been bullied, and when I heard about the group, I wanted to get involved,” he said. “Bullying is hard to deal with. When you have other people who have your back, it makes everyone easier to deal with.”

Grommes said he considers the other members of the crew – and the people they’ve helped – family.

“I consider them family, we’ve all become friends,” he said. “We’re not just a motorcycle crew, we’re a community of people who care.”

Courtnee Grommes, secretary of the group, said she formed “an instant bond” with the crew.

“We have met a ton of wonderful people, and they all feel the same: it’s about helping the kids,” she said. “I was bullied as a kid and teen. My daughter is 14, and was bullied in school. ... [The crew] has helped me help her more. Every time we meet a new person or family, they give ideas and we all get together and brainstorm, and I get to take those ideas home. Plus, I’m a sponsor as well for a child, and I put those ideas to good use with her, too.”

Lohenis said that in addition to helping children who are being bullied, his crew also is helping dispel negative stereotypes about bikers.

“There’s always a bad stigma of bikers running around with skulls and beards, tattoos and leather vests,” he said. “We’re not just some big burly bikers going down the road. That’s not the case. We’re out there helping kids, helping families and doing all we can to put an end to bullying.”

For more information about Illinois Bikers against Bullying, visit www.bikersagainstbullying.net.

For more information about the DeKalb Area Crew, contact Nick Lohenis at nickl@illinoisbikersagainstbullying.net or 815-614-9423.