SHERBURNE – More than 100 bikers rolled into Gilligan’s Restaurant in Sherburne on Wednesday – a sure sign of an early start of the summer season as the ninth annual Bike Night and Cruise-In got underway.

Every Wednesday throughout the summer, Bike Night at Gilligan’s welcomes hundreds of bikers and classic car enthusiasts from all over the area show off their ride while also helping to raise money for a good cause. Funds raised through a weekly 50/50 raffle, individual contributions and vendor sales at Bike Night are donated to cancer patients who are undergoing treatment and in need of financial assistance to foot the fuel expenses of regular trips to cancer treatment centers.

The event – sponsored by the local chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders of New York, Sherburne Wheelers, and Nam Knights Liberty Chapter – has become a staple in downtown Sherburne, proving that good things can happen when a private business teams up with nonprofit organizations.

“We started Bike Night because we realized that there was a need for a local bike night,” said Donna Danyluk, Sherburne Bike Night coordinator and member of the Patriot Guard Riders group. “As time went on, we also felt that we needed a cause.”