Motocross community rallies around Fort St. John family after theft

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A silent auction and dance will be held this Saturday to raise funds for a Fort St. John family who had all their motocross equipment stolen last December.

The event will be held at the Fort St. John Royal Canadian Legion and will feature a silent auction, a motocross gear swap table and a live DJ.

Event organizer and DJ Aaron Krafczyk told Energeticcity.ca that Fort St. John residents Kerwin and Carmen Davies and their three kids lost their dirt bikes, tools and motocross equipment after a trailer containing the items was stolen from Kerwin’s place of work on December 18th.

“They ended up getting the trailer back. It was all damaged, but the bikes and the gear were all missing,” he said.

Krafczyk said he knows the family well, adding Kerwin and the kids are enthusiastic about motocross.

“This is a family that we camp with 10 times a year. They go to all the races. This is basically what they do. And it was a pretty devastating blow to them to basically lose the ability to continue their hobby with their kids,’ he said.

After getting permission from the Davies family, Krafczyk got to work planning an event to raise funds for the family so they could participate in the 2025 racing season. Since then, he says he’s been blown away by the amount of community support shown by residents and businesses.

Target Printers printed off tickets for the event for free and the Ramada Hotel is offering a discounted room rate for those attending the event from out of town.

“We’re going to have a pretty good table of prizes for the silent auction. And [the Davies have] had a lot of community support. Some families have really stepped up to the plate and helped them out. And the dealerships, like Fast Trax MountainSports, helped them out with some really good pricing on new bikes,” Krafczyk said.

Prizes donated so far include a cooler, motocross gear and a 30-minute helicopter ride.

Wade Mathison, a Fort Nelson artist, also donated a few trophies made from motocross parts. 

“People come to his races just for the trophies. He spends three months a year welding all these little bits and pieces together to make these coolest trophies in the world,” Krafczyk said.

Other businesses and individuals who have contributed to the event include the Finning, HRH MX Performance, Dan Boettger Racing, Justin Goss, Red Line Powercraft, Bailey Helicopters, Jonathan and Janina Macgillivray, Alex and Darcie Keddy, Fort City Chrysler, Signtist Signs & Decals, Gaudin Honda, and Westech Industrial.

Krafczyk said, on the off-chance the Davies’ stolen bikes are recovered before the event, money raised will be given to the Peace Motocross Association and other families in need.

Doors open 4 p.m. on April 19th at the Legion for the gear swap, with the event officially kicking off at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $30 and can be picked up at Fast Trax MountainSports, HRH MX Performance, Red Line in Grande Prairie or Gaudin Honda in Beaverlodge. Tickets will also be available at the door of the event.