AHM pays tribute to Mike Traynor, PBTF co-founder

Attendees at the tribute to Mike Traynor included (l-r) AHM SVP Ray Blank, AHM President & CEO Tetsuo Iwamura, PBTF President & Chairman Dianne Traynor, PBTF Exec. Dir. Brian Traynor, AHM Sr. Mgr & PBTF Board Member Wayne Toyota and SVP Gary Kessler.

The tree is located just inside the Van Ness entrance on the Torrance campus.

This plaque lies at the base of the tree planted in honor of Mike Traynor, co-founder of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

More photos of the event are available here.

(From a release by Honda Corporate Affairs and Communications)

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. this afternoon paid tribute to Mike Traynor, the co-founder of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® (PBTF) and Ride for Kids®, who passed away on Sept. 12, 2009. As a token of respect, a tree was planted on the Torrance, Calif., campus as a living memorial.

A plaque commemorating his decades of work on behalf of many children afflicted with brain tumors lies at the base of the tree. It reads: "A man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child. Planted in memory of Mike Traynor, co-founder of Ride for Kids and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation."

The tree is located just inside the Van Ness entrance of the campus.

Remarking on the relationship between American Honda and the Foundation, Ray Blank, senior vice president of the Motorcycle Division, said: "For more than 25 years, American Honda has enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with the PBTF and its Ride for Kids fundraising events. Beyond our relationship with the Foundation, we also enjoyed a close personal relationship with Mike.

"One big reason Mike and Honda were such a good fit is because we had so much in common. Mike loved facing tough challenges head on. He knew research and technology were often the keys to winning. And he worked tirelessly for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, but also as an ambassador for the sport of motorcycling," Blank continued.

AHM pledges continued support
"It seems very fitting that today's memorial to Mike is a living memorial, a new beginning of life that will continue to grow strong for years to come. But as a greater sign of respect, Honda also intends to keep supporting the Ride for Kids--that's really the proper tribute to Mike," Blank said.

Dianne Traynor, President and Chairman of the Board of the PBTF, who attended the ceremony said: "Mike would have been so proud."

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation®
302 Ridgefield Ct.
Asheville, NC 28806

828-665-6891
800-253-6530
828-665-6894 (fax)
e-mail: info@pbtfus.org
website: www.pbtfus.org

All materials of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® and Ride for Kids® contained herein or elsewhere are copyrighted ©.