Turley Publications photo by Cristy Bertini

Molly’s parents, John and Magi Bish thanked everyone who participated in the event.

‘Ten years of missing Molly’

11^th Annual Molly’s Ride held June 27

By Cristy Bertini

Turley Publications Correspondent

STURBRIDGE – Over 400 motorcycles filled the parking lot of The Center at Hobbs Brook in Sturbridge for the 11^th Annual Molly’s Ride for Child Safety, held on June 27, marking the 10^th anniversary of the disappearance of 16-year-old Molly Bish.

Thousands of people gathered to support the Bish family and their child advocacy programs.

According to Molly’s Ride for Child Safety Committee (MRCS) member Ron Gresty, over 20 vendors were on site and over 50 companies sponsored the event, including the Sturbridge Police and Fire Departments, U.S. Marshalls Service, Hannaford Supermarket of North Brookfield, American Harley Davidson, Country Bank and North Brookfield Savings Bank.

A “Family Fun Day” was also held, where children could get airbrush tattoos, cartoons drawings of themselves and even a horse-drawn carriage ride around the parking lot.

MRCS member Laurel Caouette said that the Molly Bish Foundation has created over 180,000 child identification kits. “We advocate for better laws to protect our children from sex offenders. We have educated law enforcement through conferences and workshops to be prepared and act swiftly in an abduction, as time is the enemy. It takes a village, and we are the village.”

State Sen. Stephen Brewer and state Reps. Todd Smola and Anne Gobi attended the event.

Brewer thanked the crowd for not forgetting Molly and her family. “Today, we are all members of the Bish family,” he said.

Gobi remarked, “I haven’t seen this much leather since Steve Brewer’s 60^th birthday party.” She went on to say “This is a wonderful way for all of you to show your love for the Bish family.”

Smola agreed, and asked the riders “Today, on this 10^th anniversary, keep Molly in your mind and always keep her in your prayers, to make sure that she serves as a constant reminder that we will never have another missing child in this Commonwealth and across this country.”

John and Magi Bish were the last to address the crowd. Magi said this past weekend has been the most difficult one since Molly went missing. “It’s been a week to reflect, to think about how much we miss her, how every single morning I wake up and think of her. I try not to forget what her fingers looked like, how she smiled, how she made us laugh.”

Magi went on through her tears. “Nobody knows how to do this, really. Sometimes you do just want to pull the pillow over your head and that could have been easy, but John and I are doers. We know, because of Molly touching us, that it would not have been good enough. She challenged us. Someone harmed Molly, and we still don’t know after 10 years who did this, but we do know that the perpetrator still exists and is out there and he could harm again, and that’s why we do what we do. I know Molly is up there watching us and she would be so proud. I want to tell you to go home and love your kids, because you never know what the next day holds.”

John Bish then instructed the riders to “start your engines,” and the field of motorcycles embarked on their ride, honking their horns, waving their flags, and remembering Molly.