86-Year-Old Woman in Hospice Gets One Last Ride with Bikers

In a heartwarming turn of events, a group of Good Samaritans came together for an incredibly noble cause — one they would value for the rest of their lives. Their sweet gesture served as a ray of sunshine for an older woman at a time when she needed it the most.

Believe it or not, random acts of kindness are powerful enough to make a difference and change people’s lives in unexpected ways. Life is short and unpredictable, and any moment can be our last; however, we can make it count by spreading love, cheer, joy, and cherishing one another.

Anything we do out of the goodness of our hearts never goes unnoticed. Whether it’s a simple greeting, a warm hug, or a cup of tea we share with someone — acts of kindness can serve as beacons of hope and light in times of darkness and despair. A similar scenario played out in today’s story.

Nora Boardman. | Source: facebook.com/Fox8NewsCleveland

A Special Human Being

Nora Boardman was an elderly lady from Oberlin, Ohio, who wasn’t like most older people her age. Despite being in hospice, she often connected with the people entrusted with her care, narrating interesting stories from her past.

Several other bikers joined the 86-year-old woman, making her final ride all the more special and unforgettable.

An Exciting Story

One such story caught the attention of the hospice staff members. But the question was: what did Boardman tell her carers that left a lasting impression on their minds and compelled them to go the extra mile?

It turned out that the elderly woman was an avid motorcycle rider in her younger years. She constantly told the staff members about the motorcycle she owned and the many bike rides she had embarked on. What happened next wasn’t hard to guess.

A Thoughtful Surprise

On Saturday, September 10, 2022, a local non-profit from Ohio and the hospice staff decided to give Boardman a heart-melting surprise that she would never forget.

The Welcome Nursing Home and Elyria Fraternal Order of Eagles came together to give the 86-year-old woman a chance to cherish her one last motorbike ride.

A Memorable Ride

Octavia Maynard, who had thoroughly enjoyed listening to Boardman’s exciting stories about her Harley 883, shared glimpses from the special occasion on social media.

The pictures and videos showed a group of people helping the senior citizen from her wheelchair into a Harley sidecar. Several other bikers joined the 86-year-old woman, making her final ride all the more special and unforgettable.

She Had a Great Time

Maynard stated that the event was a huge success, and Boardman had a lovely time. She further wrote:

“This ended up being so much bigger than I ever dreamed. Nora said the ride was amazing, marvelous, stupendous best day. So much love from the community (sic)”.

A Momentous Occasion

Tony Psaltis, who was also a part of the special occasion, penned his feelings on Facebook: “I bet [Nora] has some pretty fascinating and fun stories to tell. I was honored to have participated in this momentous event that I truly hope made Nora’s day!”

In another social media post, Maynard thanked everyone who helped fulfill Boardman’s wish. She expressed, “Honestly thank you [so] much to everyone that came on Nora’s ride today. [It was amazing]”.

The Overwhelming Response

A video of the memorable event was shared by Fox 8 News and gained traction, with over 29k reactions and more than 3.5k comments:

“So heart wrenchingly beautiful! What a precious gift for her!!!!”

— (@rosemary.lopez.75) September 13, 2022

“What an extraordinary moment for her! Thank you to the people who made it happen. Truly heartwarming to see folks come together for Nora”.

— (@tricia.kemp.50) September 10, 2022

“What a kind and caring thing to do for this former biker, Nora. You all are beautiful people!! Ride on……….Nora!”

— (@emajka) September 11, 2022

“Awesome. We did the same thing for my brother who was on hospice. It was a wonderful turnout, and he enjoyed it. So many wonderful people showed up from all over to ride along, a special memory for all.”

— (@melissa.varrecchia.5) September 10, 2022

We are beyond delighted to know that the elderly lady had a spectacular final ride with the biker community. Please keep her in your heartfelt thoughts and prayers.