Over a span of four days, attendees will tame the mighty ‘Dragon,’ rumble through Robbinsville and enjoy a plethora of fun activities at Fontana Village Resort.
But the real goal of Lace, Grace and Gears’ stay in Graham County is to continue its mission to help raise both funds and awareness for displaced women and children. Between today and Sunday, locals and visitors alike will not have to look far to find portions of the annual rally somewhere in the area.
“We rally for a reason,” revealed Layne Neuenfeldt, CEO of Shamwari Village – an organization that hopes to begin constructing homes for affected female veterans and children, and uses Lace, Grace and Gears as the fundraiser for the concept.
“We are going to build a village for homeless female veterans, as well as young women with anxiety disorders and substance addiction. You get a lot of other motorcycle organizations that ride like we do, but ours is a party with a mission. We see each other once a year and we have fun – but we keep in mind that we are doing this for a different kind of sisterhood. Many of our ladies that ride or are supporters either are veterans themselves, or have lost their own children (to addiction or mental-health challenges) as well. To that extent, I think we are pretty unique.”
The two titles are really under one umbrella – Neuenfeldt formed both in 2016 – and her idea has a deeply-rooted background.
South African might be her homeland, but Neuenfeldt fell in love with the United States after marrying a 21-year Navy veteran and relocating halfway across the world and settling with her husband and two children in 2000.
Neuenfeldt paused the efforts in 2019 and 2020, in an attempt to channel her energy toward rehabilitating her daughter Megan, who sadly succumbed to addiction in 2021 at the age of 28. Shortly thereafter, she revived Lace, Grace and Gears’ – and with renewed vigor, began looking to make the idea of Shamwari Village a reality.
She has already paid one visit to Graham County this year, as she gave a brief presentation about Shamwari Village during the dedication of Veterans Memorial Hill in Robbinsville on March 29.
The trip only solidified that Lace, Grace and Gears had found the right fit for its 2023 assembly.
“I walked away telling my husband, ‘This is God’s country,’” Neuenfeldt explained. “I always think I have seen every gorgeous place the U.S. has to offer and then I get to Fontana Dam and Robbinsville. There is something almost sacred about the place; our women will be able to connect with nature again and get a little bit of quiet from the everyday life.
“I thought Texas had the warmest people in the world, but I think there are rivals to that in Graham County. We are very honored that the county is hosting us; I know we will take home some very special memories.”
The business plan for Shamwari Village states that “the overall intent is to facilitate recovery through increased access to excellent mental health and social services,” listing programs such as counseling, training for employment and parental assistance as some of the ideas for helping female veterans.
Shamwari Village became incorporated as a non-profit in 2019 and the first three rallies netted over $37,000 in donations; the 2021 event in Rogers, Ark., netted $16,600 (the 2019 and 2020 rallies were not held due to personal matters).
There is no measurable number for even a rough estimate of how many female veterans are currently homeless. Shamwari Village’s goal is to build 60 small homes on a locale of 60-80 acres; Neuenfeldt said the organization has been scouting potential sites for years, but has not settled on a permanent spot just yet.
“Everything depends on where we can get our land and what services we can partner with in an area, so we don’t duplicate services,” Neuenfeldt added. “It’s an holistic approach to healing these ladies; many of our veterans have PTSD and unfortunately, a lot of their options are limited. Very few will let them keep their children with them when they go into a residential program – whereas, that is our goal; we believe that if you heal a family together, the chances of a successful outcome for both mother and child are much better.”
This year’s rally will also feature a visit from Gloria Tramontin Struck, a 98-year-old legend in the motorcycle world. She will be on-hand at Fontana Village, but will also serve as the grand marshal of the “Parade of Sisters,” which will follow the typical parade route through Robbinsville.
Struck was also a guest of the Lace, Grace and Gears Rally in 2018.
Along with finding the perfect spot to build its first development, Shamwari Village is looking to pair with community partners and fundraise. For details, visit lacegraceandgears.org.
In addition to online, donations can also be mailed to:
Shamwari Village
6315-B FM1488 Rd., #110
Magnolia, TX 77354
Attn: Annual Giving.