Motorcycle clubs raise money for terminally ill Nashville boy

More than 150 bikers throughout the southeast and dozens more from neighboring communities gathered at Bunn Chapel Baptist Church for prayer and songs after a charity ride Sunday in honor of 11-year-old Jayden West.

“Just today we raised right at $3,300,” said Christopher Hedgepeth of the Street Soldiers Motorcycle Club. “Just today and we have bikers that come from Fayetteville, Greenville, Virginia, and Raleigh.”

Jayden West’s father, Moses West, didn’t know so many people would come out in support of his son. He was the only one from the family who attended the event since his wife and younger son stayed home to care for Jayden West.

Moses West says that signs of his son’s illness showed up months ago in the form of leg pain.

“We could never find out what was going on,” said Moses West. “We thought it was maybe a pulled muscle or growing pain.”

It wasn’t a growing pain but cancer, which started in Jayden West’s kidneys and spread to other parts of his body.

“It’s terminal and it’s real aggressive and there’s not much treatment,” said Moses West.

With a prognosis of just a few months left with his son, Moses West is leaning on the hopes and prayers of the bikers and others in the community, many of whom he has never met.

“As a child, it’s more touching, you know,” said Hedgepeth. “That you never know that this child might be on his last life.”

The bikers presented West with an envelope holding monetary donations. As they rode away, Moses West realized they’ve given him some encouragement that he can take back home to his son.

“He’s my baby. Even though he’s my oldest, so, it’s hard,” said Moses West. “Just to see him going through what he goes through and still push on and fight on, it’s motivation for me and my wife.”

Jayden West is currently in hospice care.