MIDDLEBURG – Saturday’s Poker Chip Run won’t get Tim Westerwelle’s family out of debt, be enough to build them a new home or replace everything they lost when their home burned down in late May.

But it went a long way toward comforting the family’s sense of altruism and generosity.

“It was more than money, just people coming together meant more than any money, actually,” Westerwelle said. “To me, doing that, I mean, it really showed me how our community just comes together.”

Friends of the lead guitarist for Higher Ground came to American Legion Post 250 for a day of music, music, motorcycles and fundraisers to provide Westerwelle with money and support.

It started with more than 60 riders who made stops at Dalton’s Sports Grill, Smith Lake Bar in Keystone Heights, Red Dog Saloon in Starke and Fat Boyz Bar in Jacksonville before returning to Middleburg.

That’s when the party really got started.

Southbound 41, Southern Junction, Vynl, JJ Rocs and Higher Ground all played shows for free while Cht’z and Giggles’ Terry Martin and Joe Rose cooked enough pulled pork and chicken to feed 200.

There also were about 20 items for sale and auction.

Support for the family started while his 47-year-old mobile home in Clay Hill was still smoldering.

“We woke up at 4 a.m., and we saw flames,” Westerwelle said. “We got our daughter out, and nobody was hurt. There were flames in her room. I tried to return to get my guitars, but I couldn’t. I also lost a drum set because that’s where we practiced. Everything was in flames. We lost everything.”

The fire apparently started with a faulty jacuzzi motor on the back porch. Although the plug had a GFI breaker, it didn’t cut the power off, and flames quickly consumed the back porch.

He didn’t have insurance since the mobile home was bought in 1976.

“I have an RV that was on my property,” he said. “We’ve been living in that, but just Friday, we will start renting a place until I can figure out what to do.

“It’s kind of odd that a lot of people hate the world so bad right now, but when something like this happens, and everybody comes over, I mean, from the time the house caught fire, people were coming to the house. What do you need? Do you need food, do you need this? They brought generators so we could have power. The electric company had to shut the power off because of the fire. We stayed there for about a month without power, just running on generators.”

Fellow musician Paul Wane called and offered a free guitar, all the wires and an amplifier so the band’s music wouldn’t be silenced.

One of Higher Ground’s most-memorable sets came weeks after the fire at the famed Whiskey a Go Go in on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. The band planned and saved for that trip for months, and the travel wasn’t refundable.

The thrill of playing at the world-famous nightclub was replaced by the reality of the family’s plight when he returned. Saturday’s Poker Chip Run was a much-needed distraction from the difficult road ahead.

“I’m not sure what they raised, but it was a really good turnout,” Westerwelle said. “I couldn’t believe so many people came out, all the riders that got together. The community really came together (on Saturday).”

Organizers said they collected $3,200. Anyone interested in helping the Westerwelle family can donate at www.gofundme.com/5e466ab1.