Saturday, January 18, 2025
SPRINGTOWN — Springtown local Brad Baltzell hosted the first annual “Alyssa’s Ride,” part of The Alyssa Project, Saturday, Nov. 30 to honor all those lost to fentanyl and to raise awareness of growing numbers of deaths related to fentanyl.
Baltzell recently started a nonprofit organization called The Alyssa Project, named after his daughter who tragically passed away Nov. 29, 2020, at 19 years old from fentanyl poisoning. The Alyssa Project works in conjunction with We Are Our Brother’s Keeper, another nonprofit started by Jessica Castro bringing awareness to drug addiction and overdose prevention.
The reason behind the motorcycle ride is a couple of months before Alyssa passed away, Baltzell had bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle after not having ridden one in 30 years. Alyssa wanted to ride the motorcycle with her dad, but Baltzell wanted to get used it riding the bike before he let his daughter on it.
“I didn’t get to give her that ride,” Baltzell said. “That's how this came about. I thought, ‘Why not put together a motorcycle ride?’ This raises awareness about the fentanyl crisis in this country. It is the number one leading killer of kids in this country. And it's killing off our kids at epidemic rate.”
The bike ride started at Prodigy Cycles off State Highway 199 at 11:45 a.m. The bikers rode to Weatherford, then Mineral Wells and then back to Springtown. An old friend of Alyssa’s, Kinnedy Walker, showed up to the event wearing Alyssa’s high school band jacket in support of the motorcycle ride. Baltzell also shared that he puts a little guardian bell on his bike that Alyssa had purchased for him just before she died.
“That's why I named this Alyssa's Ride, because Alyssa gets to ride with me on this every year,” Baltzell said. “I'm wearing her banner jacket every time. Her guardian bell is on my bike. But it's not about bringing recognition and glory to my daughter. It's about bringing awareness of the fentanyl crisis.”
Baltzell said all the money from the ride will go toward drug awareness groups and he hopes that one day, Alyssa’s Ride will start a trend.
“The money that's raised from Alyssa’s Ride will all go to nonprofit drug awareness groups or drug rehab groups,” Baltzell said. “And, if this thing went national, it would be so awesome to see different chapters Nov. 30 every year, doing a ride.”
Baltzell reflected on his daughter’s passing, saying he misses her every day.
“I can't believe four years have already gone by, but it seems like an eternity since I've got to talk to her,” Baltzell said. “I miss her, but I'm proud of what she's achieving through her life for a short time.”
Since The Alyssa Project is in the early stages of development, follow We Are Our Brother’s Keeper on Facebook for more updates. If you are struggling or know anyone struggling with addiction, call 313-217-3081.
