By Kevin Robbins

Staff Writer

On July 11, 2007 19-year-old Eric “Freddy” Leighton Frederick lost his life, when he was killed in an automobile crash.

On Saturday his life will be celebrated with the Ride for Freddy Rally at the Clambake Restaurant in Scarborough. The motorcycle rally, coordinated by family friend Susan Dobrovolny and her husband Mark, is a charity event to raise funds for the New England Organ Donor Bank.

Dobrovolny said they chose to do a motorcycle rally because “motorcyclists are very generous to those in need.”

   Frederick was an organ donor himself. So far, his heart has been donated to Scarborough resident Mike Brown who was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease that is characterized by the deterioration of the myocardium. Two other people have been recipients of Frederick’s organs, Dobrovolny said. Frederick’s kidneys, pancreas, veins and bones have also been donated, his mother Deb Coons said.

 “He was a huge family friend,” Dobrovolny said. “He was working two jobs and saving money for a car. Everybody who knew him either liked him or loved him.”

 “Freddy was the type of person who was very friendly and outgoing. Most people were comfortable around him. His friends meant a lot to him,” Coons said.

He planned on attending Southern Maine Community College, Dobrovolny said.

The rally will begin with a motorcycle ride through surrounding towns. Registration opens at 8 a.m. and the cost is $20 per rider. The ride starts at 9 a.m. and lasts until noon. There will be an entrance fee of $10 for participants who do not want to ride in the rally.

Throughout the day there will be a silent auction at the Clambake Restaurant. Dobrovolny said participants would need to purchase a bid number. Items to be auctioned off include an overnight stay at Black Point Inn, area rugs, handcrafted vases and a variety of gift certificates.

A lunch will be offered at the end of the ride for $2.50 at the Clambake. A DJ will play music at the lunch.

Dobrovolny said there will be 50/50 raffle tickets, CDs, hacky sacks and T-shirts designed by Ken Murphy for sale to raise additional money for the donor bank. Ladies gift bags will be on sale for $6 that will include bandanas, nail polish, Bath and Body hand cream and beaded bracelets. 

Dobrovolny said she expects at least 200 people to show up at the rally. So far, 90 members of the Facebook community have responded to the invitation for the rally online. Dobrovolny said she hopes to raise at least $4,000. 

“The ride will be bittersweet. It will be nice to see everybody come out and support Freddy’s memory. I think Freddy would be extremely happy,” Coons said.