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Riders for Readers rolls into Thomas Hunter

More than a dozen motorcycles rumbled into the parking lot at Thomas Hunter Middle School in Mathews on June 8 to bring books for summer reading and a message about the importance of reading. 

The purpose of the event, sponsored by a nonprofit organization called Riders for Readers, has been held at the school for the past four years during the last week before summer vacation. 

The group was formed nearly 20 years ago by Mathews resident Eric Engler. It sponsors five or more similar events each year in the Richmond and Mathews areas, reaching approximately a thousand elementary and middle-school students each year.

The riders, who include retirees, dentists, teachers, business owners and mechanics, spoke to the students about how reading was important to them and their work, and encouraged them to read during their summer vacation. Then each student was invited to choose from hundreds of free books provided by sponsors to take home.

 “Reading is a rewarding ha...

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