The Newsmagazine of Long Beach Island and Southern Ocean County
IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Jon Miller, of Jon Miller Car Care, has assembled an expert team to build the Captain Cow chopper for Hearts and Harleys. The motorized mascot will be unveiled at the 10th anniversary poker run July 27.(Photos by Jack Reynolds) triangle Pizza Slice Box
When it comes to matters of community, Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor have never hesitated to pull together to lift each other up. This time, local businesses are making it happen for Hearts and Harleys. With the help of donations and resources from the community, local mechanic Jon Miller, owner of Jon Miller Car Care, is building a custom chopper inspired by the foundation’s charming mascot, Captain Cow.
The chopper will act as a motorized mascot that travels with the organization to fundraising events to help spread awareness. Its big reveal will take place during Hearts and Harleys’ 10th anniversary poker run, on July 27.
Hearts and Harleys was organized by John Pabst in 2015 in memory of his son, Gavin Pabst, and Gavin’s mother, Michelle Heist, who lost their lives to domestic violence in November 2014. Pabst initially launched the organization to memorialize his loved ones with a scholarship in his son’s memory as well as a donation in Heist’s memory. It would soon take on the overall mission to raise awareness around domestic violence and provide support and encouragement to victims, and honor the memories of others like his loved ones through charitable endeavors.
“We’ve continued to expand,” said Pabst, who was proud to share the foundation has grown from its Atlantic County base (where Heist and their son lived), into Southern Ocean County, where there are few to no resources.
“We’re trying to raise funds to purchase a safe house, so that anybody having issues with domestic violence have a place to go to be safe from harm,” Pabst added. The location is still to be determined.
Pabst was introduced to Jon Miller by their longtime mutual friend Anthony “Tony” LaFera, and they became fast friends.
“I’ve known Jon for many, many years now, and he’s a huge support and believer in what Hearts and Harleys is doing,” Pabst said.
“My best friend Anthony introduced me to Hearts and Harleys after the tragic loss of Gavin and Michelle,” Miller said. “I was enamored by Gavin’s father, John Pabst. He lost his son at 7 years old due to senseless violence. Yet, somehow that man wakes up in the morning and finds peace. He is an inspiration to us all. John and I instantly became best friends, and have always had a great respect for one another.”
In 2020, Orange County Choppers held its Dream Chopper contest, through which Dream Chopper LLC donates a portion of net proceeds to support a charitable cause.
“We entered the contest thinking, ‘Why not? We have a platform, we’ll see how it goes,’” Pabst said.
When Hearts and Harleys entered the contest, there were over 70,000 people, and they finished in the top 16, “which is great but, unfortunately, only the winner got the money to be able to build a chopper.”
Not long after the contest, LaFera, who was on Hearts and Harleys’ board of directors, passed away due to complications of COVID-19. That loss brought Miller and Pabst closer together and closer to their mission.
Since the loss of LaFera, “I have felt the need to do something over the top and next level for Hearts and Harleys,” Miller said. “John shared a dream with me to have their own chopper for use in publicity events and to help raise awareness for victims of domestic violence. I took this, secretly, as a challenge, and started looking for the right donor bike.”
Miller assembled an exceptional team to work on the project. Anthony Moresco of TonyMexx Custom Painting will provide a base coat and final clear coat on the bike, while local airbrush artist Jeffrey Martinez will provide all airbrushing and graphics. Dennis Deevy of NJ Multimedia will donate time and resources to help with a marketing campaign to aid not only with the unveiling of the chopper, but also with lifting Hearts and Harleys into the national consciousness.
“The team of mechanics at my shop have all jumped on board to help fabricate, build, assemble and bring this bike to life,” Miller was pleased to report.
Every aspect of the project will be a surprise for Pabst, who will not see the bike until its unveiling at the end of July.
“I just know we’ll build what we will affectionately call the Captain Cow Chopper,” said Pabst, who explained, “Michelle’s nickname was Moo Moo, and Gavin’s favorite character was Captain America.”
However, per Miller’s request, Pabst has put together photos and keepsakes of his loved ones for Miller’s team so their memory can be woven into every aspect of the project.
Miller has launched a GofFundMe page to help cover the cost of expenses associated with the project.
“Advocacy in general is not about raising money. It’s about raising awareness and sharing passion,” Miller said. “However, it takes money to accomplish these goals. There are thousands of small organizations across the planet attempting to share their message. Hearts and Harleys deserves to be recognized, and I am honored and humbled to be able to play a small role in their big picture. I am building this bike in honor and memory of Gavin, Michelle and Anthony.”
To support Hearts and Harleys in the meantime, visit heartsandharleys.org.
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