When Levi Alexander of Harpswell died in a motorcycle crash on June 1, he left behind grieving family members, friends and a community who will remember him with a fitting tribute on Saturday.
Alexander’s friend Jason Perry has organized a memorial road cruise to raise money for his widow, Abby Alexander, to help her complete the house the couple had been planning in Harpswell.
Perry met Alexander when they worked at Bath Iron Works. Perry lived with Levi and Abby Alexander for a few years, and now rents an apartment from Levi’s parents.
“Their whole family welcomed me with open arms. … I never once in my life met a family like this,” Perry said.
Support from the family and community has been unbelievable in the wake of Alexander’s death, he said.
The road cruise is a fitting memorial for Alexander, Perry said, and he hopes it will become an annual event. Alexander helped him administer a Facebook page called Maine Diesels, a buy, swap and sell page.
“His big things in life were his trucks, his car and being on the water,” Perry said. “He liked being out on the water a lot. He grew up on the water in Harpswell.”
Perry will charge $10 at the gate Saturday, which opens at 9:30 a.m. Everyone and their vehicles are welcome. It is a rain-or-shine event.
Vehicles will leave the Topsham Fairgrounds on Saturday at 11 a.m. and travel together toward Mitchell Field in Harpswell.
Participants will then leave as one big group, driving past the land on which Alexander and his wife were building along Route 123, before returning to the Topsham Fairgrounds for a meal.
Meals are $5 with all proceeds going to Abby as well.
During the event, Bridie Mears, a consultant for Lularoe, will also be selling clothing at Topsham Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds from each pair of leggings sold will be donated in memory of Alexander.
Perry said there will be a lot of diesel trucks in the road cruise and stressed that participants are to be respectful. Burnouts and racing are not allowed.
A GoFundMe page at gf.me/u/522pi, titled Levi’s Dream, has been created to raise money to help ease some of the financial strain on Abby Alexander, who hopes to carry out one of her husband’s dreams.
“Dreams are never forgotten and Levi’s one wish was to have a beautiful house full of love and happiness,” the campaign states.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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