Warrior Cruise raises funds for local veteran

MOSES LAKE - Dozens of drivers took their motorcycles, trucks and classic cars to the streets of Moses Lake Saturday evening to help raise money for an area veteran.

About 50 vehicles were in this year's Warrior Cruise, which went from McCosh Park to Blue Heron Park, Theresa Harrington, one of the event's organizers, said. Proceeds from the event, which also included a barbecue and a car show, will pay to retrofit Moses Lake resident David Adamson's bathroom with a barrier-free shower, she said.

Adamson, a 1965 Moses Lake High School graduate, shattered his right knee while serving in the Air Force. He's had numerous surgeries on it over the years - the most recent of which took place earlier this year.

He said his knee is doing much better since the last surgery, but moving around at home is still inconvenient.

"My bathroom is pretty small right now," said Adamson. "It'll be a lot easier to get in and out with the new shower."

Harrington and her husband Ward operate Best Bath Systems in Moses Lake. They got the idea for the Warrior Cruise about a year ago during a casual conversation with friend Noland Dominguez at their children's baseball game, she said.

"We were just chatting about cruising, because that's what Noland is into and it just went from there," Harrington said. "My husband does work with veterans a lot with the showers and we've always wanted to help them in some way and so the three of us found a way to mesh what we knew into a way to help."

She said they hope to do the Warrior Cruise each year and have the proceeds go to a different veteran each time.

Dominguez said he was surprised, yet humbled, at Saturday's turnout.

"This was our first Warrior Cruise, I was nervous that no one would show up," he said. "But the support we received is just tremendous."

Dominguez said it was nice to see so many people want to help a local veteran. Harrington said she agreed, adding that many groups and businesses pitched in to help make the Warrior Cruise happen as well.

"This was a huge collaboration," she said.

The American Legion helped connect them with Adamson, for example. They were also able to purchase the shower at cost, and Pope's Plumbing is donating all of the plumbing work.

Moses Lake businesses Reddy Ice and Love Me Espresso also donated supplies for the barbecue, she said.

"Every person here, and every person who helped us, is helping change a vet's life," said Harrington. "This is the most amazing thing, it's humbling to say the least."