An Airgas-themed motorcycle custom-made by Orange County Choppers roared into Meridian Tuesday to help raise money for cystic fibrosis research.

Airgas, the world’s largest distributor of industrial gas and welding equipment, bought the chopper to take on tour around the Gulf Coast region and gather donations for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides Campaign.

The “old school,” rigid-frame bike has a motor function kick-starter and an 88-cubic-inch engine. For a donation of $5 to the campaign, visitors had their pictures taken with the bike and enjoyed free cold drinks and smoked sausage.

Bill Delcambre, director of retail operations for Airgas Gulf States, said the response to the company’s bike tour has been tremendous: “We have had car loads of kids come out to come and look at it. They just love it.”

Airgas will match all donations made during the campaign. Delcambre said he anticipates they will match at least $5,000.

The Airgas chopper will make its next stops in Laurel today, Hattiesburg on Thursday and Theodore, Ala., on Monday.