In 2019, the WHO estimated that roughly 1 billion children aged 2 to 17 years had endured sexual, physical, or emotional violence. When a child experiences violence at such an early stage in their life, it impacts lifelong well-being and health.
Sometimes, they are so traumatized that they don’t even want to point out the abuser during the trial, and in some cases, the abuser walks away. Thankfully, a team of bikers called BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) is set to protect these children and help them feel safe again.
BACA, founded in 1995, is an international non-profit that recruits volunteer bikers to expand its support team for children who are abuse victims. BACA has organizations in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada.
Before the bikers go to help a child, they do extensive background checks and training for handling sensitive situations. Then, the whole gang drives to the child’s home in their big bikes and gives the kid their own BACA vest with a nickname sown onto the vest, like “Pooh Bear,” or “Scooter.” The bikers tell the child: “you are a part of our family now, which means, we got your back.”
They visit the child when requested, no matter the time of day. The bikers will come if the kid is scared at two or four in the morning. When the child has to testify in court, the bikers will escort them to the stand so that they don’t have to get scared and intimidated by the abuser. And they do all of this for free.
Everybody knows not to mess with bikers, even kids. Bikers’ reputation as protective and fearless translates to children who have been made to feel scared and powerless. “When we tell a child, they don’t have to be afraid, they believe us. When we tell them, we will be there for them, they believe us,” said Pipes, a BACA volunteer.
Rembrandt, another volunteer biker for BACA, said:
“The biker image is what makes this work. Golfers against child abuse does not have the same feel. The pink alligator shirt and golf shoes standing in the driveway doesn’t do the same thing.”
When John Paul Lilly came up with the idea in 1995, he worked with a young boy who was too scared to leave his home because of bullying. John could relate to the boy because when he was young, he was also abused. However, he was lucky enough to have neighborhood bikers who befriended him. “They became my family. I just never felt more secure than when I was with them,” John recalled. With that recollection and knowledge, he decided it was time to take action and end this child abuse worldwide; thus, BACA was born.
John explained:
“Bikers have a soft spot for kids. I couldn’t quote you a figure, but I know that a lot of bikers had been abused as kids. When they see a chance to step in and release some of their own demons, they have no problem standing up for a child. It was just such a natural fit.”
On the Bikers Against Child Abuse website, you can find out more information, new missions, and where to find them and donate to them.
