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Horror-lovers making a difference: Bikers Against Child Abuse at Frightmare in the Falls

Saturday, December 7, 2019 | Interview

Every year at Frightmare in the Falls, horror-lovers come together to meets stars, check out panels, buy cool merch and more. This year, directly across our booth, was a man with a motorcycle. People came by to snap pics of this machine covered in horror art depicting some of our most beloved icons. I noticed him engaging in conversation and sometimes handing out pamphlets. Curious, I went over to see what he was about. Meet Boudah, one of our horror community members involved in an organization called Bikers Against Child Abuse, also known as BACA. Often, we don’t really see what else is going on beyond our common love of ghouls, but he and BACA are helping those who have experienced real-life horrors. Here is an interview with Boudah about horror, his bike, and how he and BACA are making a difference.

By MARIAM BASTANI

How did you become involved in Frightmare in the Falls?

I have been a horror junky since I was a toddler. My mom was my influence there. It’s our thing honestly, haha. So, when I can up with the idea for my bike called Scharacters, I had several horror icons air brushed onto my motorcycle. I have been lucky enough to meet many of these icons of horror culture and have had them autographing the bike. When I saw a Facebook ad for Frightmare, I reached out to the organizers and offered my bike up for show at no cost in trade for the opportunity to meet some more of the characters already painted on my bike. The rest is history, so they say.

Please tell us about the horror influences you chose to represent. How else does this love play into your life all year round?

I am a huge 80’s horror movie fan, so I’ve got Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers on my gas tank, Chucky and Tiffany on the side fenders and the nurse from SILENT HILL…not 80’s I know, but, come on, I’m a biker and she is sexy. I have Reagan from THE EXORCIST, Captain Spaulding, Hannibal Lector, but as Tony Hopkins. I’ve also got old school Pennywise from IT as well as Leatherface from TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE all on my front ferring.  On my front tire, I have the first zombie who fell off the bike in the WALKING DEAD series.

As horror lovers, we expose ourselves to some pretty traumatic fiction, scenarios we can walk away from, but you are part of a group that helps real-life people deal with trauma. Please tell us about Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA).  

BACA is a group of bikers who sole mission is to empower abused children to not fear the world in which they live. We do this by welcoming them into our family and being there for them 24/7. We simply show up no matter what. Day or night, rain snow sleet hail, we get there when they’re scared. Court as an adult is scary, just imagine being a small child having to relive the biggest horror story of their life. Testifying is the biggest step to healing and when we fill a courtroom with strong men and woman, all bikers out, so that child feels safe as part of our family. We are scarier than that perpetrator ever could be. We are there for the children. That’s empowering!

Where can people find more information about about BACA?

www.bacaworld.org where you can also find a list of all the chapters in the world. Currently 17 countries have chapters with members in the tens of thousands. All with the same training, the same mission, the same methods, the same brother and sister hood to empower abused children to not fear the world in which they live.

What would you say to other horror lovers who want to make a difference in their community?

What’s your legacy going to be when you die? I asked myself that question 4 years ago. I had no answer. I entered my bike in a show at a local biker fest and during a break I went outside for a few minutes. I saw this sign “BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE,” so I went to talk with them. I fell in love with the mission and knew that was going to be my legacy. Everyone hates child abuse, right? But what are you doing to stop it? I’ve found a family of brothers and sisters who chose to do something about it. I must be clear: we are not vigilantes. I could care less about the abuser. It’s all about that child and making them feel safe, getting them their voices back, empowering them to get their say in court and close the book on their abusers. If you don’t make a difference in your community, the bad guys will!

Mariam RM