Wareham biked and rock-and-rolled in memory of Hailey Jean Pease during the first ever Hailey's Ride and celebration at the Wareham Elks Lodge on Saturday, August 4.

The motorcycle run brought in approximately $3,000 for Hailey's Helping Hands, an organization founded in memory of the 8-year-old, who lost her battle with leukemia last summer.

Hailey's mother Shannon Maxim and friend Jessica Travers are working to obtain nonprofit status for the organization, which will help parents who have lost a child with bills, other expenses, and just about anything else — including launching their own nonprofit foundations or giving them the opportunity to take a little more time off work to work through their grief.

Obtaining nonprofit status costs approximately $850, Maxim said.

"It's awesome," Maxim said of the event. "We get our nonprofit [status] and we have enough to help a family if they come to us."

One of the reasons Hailey's Helping Hands is gearing up to help grieving parents, said Travers, is because "you never find [a charity] that helps after the fact."

Travers added: "Whatever helps them get through financially, mentally... that's what we're here for."

A neighbor of Maxim, Hailey's father Richard Pease, and Hailey's sister Mary Jane Wood, Travers saw the family's ordeal first-hand. When Maxim began thinking of ways to honor Hailey and help families dealing with a child's death, there was no question that Travers would be on-board.

"I couldn't have done any of this without her," Maxim said as Travers checked on the volunteers who were gearing up to grill outside the Elks. Travers serves as vice-president of Hailey's Helping Hands.

Saturday's event began with the Hailey's Ride motorcycle run from Acushnet to the Wareham Elks Lodge. A celebration with tons of food, raffles, and Wareham cover band Whiskey Throttle followed.

The band was among the first supporters to "jump on board" for the fundraiser, said Maxim, noting that the members donated their time.

"They've been great," she said, adding that Hailey's Helping Hands currently, and will likely never, have any paid employees. Organizers worked hard to keep costs down for the event so Hailey's Helping Hands can begin assisting families.

The band was happy to help.

"Any time you can do something good, how can you lose?" asked Scott Remick, the band's guitarist and singer, adding that being able to help people is "one of the best things about being in a band."

Travers said she hopes Hailey's Ride will become a staple in the community — and grow every year. She and Maxim are also planning more annual fundraisers to take place throughout the year.

Travers noted: "You have to make something good from something bad."

For more information about Hailey's Helping Hands, visit www.facebook.com/HaileysHelpingHands.