Wheels for Waylen – honoring a young cancer victim while raising money for cancer patients

By Sharon Estep

One of the charities that benefits Ride for a Cure Inspired by Wendy Nasby (a fundraiser to benefit local cancer patients and their families) is Wheels for Waylen. Wheels for Waylen was started by Kevin and Sandy Vernon, whose grandson, Waylen Boyle, passed away from NUT Midline Carcinoma cancer on January 1, 2021, just one day before his 11th birthday.

Ride for a Cure rode for Waylen just a few months prior to him losing his battle with the disease. With the money raised, Kevin said, “we took the entire family to Lego Land (he was crazy for legos) and Fort Walton Beach, Florida (because he took to water like a fish).”

On the day of Waylen's death Steve Sadler contacted Kevin to request the honor of giving Waylen a Ride for a Cure escort to his final resting place. It was 26 degrees the day Waylen was buried but over 100 bikes were there as well as 40 cop cars. The Scott County Sheriff deputized Waylen so he got a fallen officers funeral. “Waylen had wanted to be a police officer,” remarked Kevin.

Having seen the outpouring of love and kindness of the community and the “bikers”, Kevin and Sandy knew they, “had to be a part of this group”.  Two months later Kevin bought a 2000 Heritage Classic Harley Davidson and taught himself how to ride. In June of that year, he saw a bike that he had to have. Sandy encouraged him to purchase it, so he did for $1000 more than he paid for it. “Thought I might be able make a little extra money flipping bikes”, laughed Kevin. He bought another Harley for $7000 sold it a couple of months later for $11,000. A coworker had a friend wanting to a sell a 2016 Fatboy for $10,000 which was about $6,000 under book value so Kevin went to buy it. In conversations with the owner Kevin told him why he got into riding bikes and told him Waylen’s story like he had told many times before. He asked Kevin if he was going to turn around and sell the bike and Kevin said he probably would. The owner then asked if Kevin was involved with Ride for a Cure and his answer was affirmative. Kevin explained to the owner that learning to ride and riding with his wife was on their bucket list but she had passed away in May of 2021 from COVID and that she gave $10-$15,000 a year to charities. Kevin then gave his word that if he sold the bike he would give half of the money to charity and use half for himself. The owner ended up giving the bike to Kevin.

That is when Kevin decided to start “Wheels for Waylen” and raffle the bike. “To keep my word with the kind gentleman that gave me the bike I gave half the money to Ride for A Cure and took my half and bought another bike to raffle the next year and gave half that money to Ride for A Cure- and bought another bike”.

In the first two years they raised $30,000 and have given $15,000 to Ride for A Cure to help families dealing with cancer all to keep Waylen’s memory alive. Wheels for Waylen has a Facebook page and is a 501 3c tax exempt charitable organization and have an Indiana gaming license from the Indiana Gaming Commission. “For us it’s not so much as giving away a Harley or winning a Harley as it is raising money for families dealing with cancer. Maybe we can be a part of giving others cherished memories, as we have, to carry through our lives in place of the loved one we have lost to this dreadful disease”.

Anyone wanting to purchase a raffle ticket for this year's 2009 Softail Deluxe Harley Davidson, send a private message through their Facebook page or text (812) 414-9519. The bike will be raffled off after the Ride for a Cure bike ride on Saturday, September 21.