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Over 250 Sioux City motorcyclists show up to grant 11-year-old's birthday wish

A boy sits on a motorcycle.
Photo courtesy of Ashley Kirkes
Sioux City 11-year-old Dallas is granted his birthday wish to ride a motorcycle at a party in September.

Dallas Grave wanted to ride a motorcycle for his 11th birthday. Hundreds showed up at his house to make it happen.

An 11-year-old's birthday party had a turnout of more than 250 people earlier this month. The party guests, motorcyclists from the Sioux City area, filled the street to make a stranger’s day after seeing a mom’s post asking for help in making a birthday extra special.

Ashley Kirkes, a mother of two boys — Dallas and Dakota — says she always goes “big” for birthdays.

“When we can make one day really, really special for them, why not?” she said.

For his 11th birthday, Kirkes’ son Dallas said he wanted to ride a motorcycle. Dallas got the idea after 12 cyclists stopped by a lemonade stand he was running. Kirkes said after that interaction, Dallas became obsessed with motorcycles. She posted an invitation on Facebook, hoping she could get 20 or 30 bike riders to show up.

“We ended up with 250 to 300 motorcycles at our house, along with the 712 Sioux City Jeep Club," she recalled. "We had two vipers show up, several sports cars drove by... It was just amazing.”

Hundreds of people gather in Sioux City.
Photo Contributed by Ashley Kirkes.
Dallas' party guests gather outside his home.

To make their visit even more special, the motorcyclists brought gifts and cards for Dallas.

Kirkes’ immediate reaction was to cry tears of joy.

“I'm like, ‘Oh my gosh, there really is good in the community," she said. "There really [are] people out there who care about kids or just people in general.’”

The smile on his face is the biggest smile I've ever seen in my life, and it didn't go away for days.
Ashley Kirkes

But Dallas’ reaction wasn’t tears.

As dozens of bikes pulled onto their street, Kirkes looked over at her son.

“The smile on his face is the biggest smile I've ever seen in my life, and it didn't go away for days,” she recalled.

After receiving an overwhelming amount of love from her community, Kirkes said she thinks she has peaked with her 11-year-old son's birthday party.

“I don't think I'll ever be able to top this one,” she said.

Madeleine Willis is IPR's Production Assistant supporting the talk shows and The Sunny Side Project. Willis has experience in audio production, reporting, writing and editing stories and conversations. She's reported and produced conversations on womanhood, sports, and good news from across Iowa. Willis will receive her bachelors degree from the University of Iowa in May 2025.