An Okotoks girl was treated to a special visit from a group of bikers on Sunday.
Anti-bullying motorcycle group Bikers are Buddies Canada rolled up to Hannahlyn Clifford's home on July 25 to recognize her efforts in the community with their first ever Buddy Award.
"It's important for us to recognize what the community can do to lift other people up and Hannah represents that," said Bob “Popeye” Button, president of the Calgary group for Bikers are Buddies and Okotoks firefighter.
“We all got together here today to celebrate her as a person, and she’s more than deserving.”
Through an initiative Hannahlyn’s Backpacks, Clifford, who is partially non-verbal due to cerebral palsy, has been collecting donations to load backpacks with basic necessities such as toques, gloves, and toiletries for the homeless.
Last Christmas alone, the initiative loaded over 300 backpacks for the Mustard Seed in Calgary.
Fifteen Bikers are Buddies members rolled up to Clifford’s house in Cimarron around 2 p.m., where she watched the display with her mom Leanne.
While a person of few words, Clifford immediately greeted the group with a round of hugs.
After receiving her award she also presented them with a poster she had created for the group, as well as a bead picture of Beetlejuice, in memory of group member Matt “Beetlejuice” Forseth who was killed by an impaired driver in June.
Clifford’s mother Leanne said the group’s support had a major impact.
“She is very happy she got recognized, it makes her really happy,” Leanne said. “Hannah’s always been a big supporter of Bikers are Buddies—she thinks she’s one of the bikers.”
The organization was created by founder Jay Sullivan in response to the bullying his autistic son was experiencing.
The Calgary group of anti-bullying organization Bikers are Buddies paid a visit to Hannahlyn Clifford on July 25 to recognize her community service. The Okotoks youth has been collecting necessities to fill backpacks for the homeless, with over 300 backpacks given over Christmas of 2020. By Brent Calver/OkotoksTODAY
Nicole "Sunshine" Nichols of the Calgary group of anti-bullying organization Bikers are Buddies presents Hannahlyn Clifford with the group's first ever Buddy Award on July 25 to recognize her community service. The Okotoks youth has been collecting necessities to fill backpacks for the homeless, with over 300 backpacks given over Christmas of 2020. By Brent Calver/OkotoksTODAY
The Calgary group of anti-bullying organization Bikers are Buddies presents a poster made by Hannahlyn Clifford during a visit on July 25 to recognize her community service. The Okotoks youth has been collecting necessities to fill backpacks for the homeless, with over 300 backpacks given over Christmas of 2020. By Brent Calver/OkotoksTODAY
