The morning of Aug. 27 was a great one in Michigan, where 375 participants came out in the rain for the Ann Arbor Ride for Kids®. The 15th annual event benefited the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's (PBTF) medical research and family support programs.
Both the road ride and dual sport event left from Washtenaw Community College. They followed rolling, wooded roads along the Huron River before returning for the Celebration of Life program.
There the participants celebrated the survivorship of eight local children, including 10-year-olds Cara and Katie. Longtime Ann Arbor "star" Ruth, 23, told the motorcyclists, "I come back every year because you come back. You mean the world to me."
The total raised at the Ann Arbor event was $66,930. The top individual fundraisers were Rob and Denni Proctor of Allegan, Mich., who brought $8,000. The top club was Wheels for Wishes of Clare, Mich., with $6,785, while the customers of Central Motor Sports of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., turned in $4,241 to make it the top motorcycle business. The grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle, went to Evert Bek of Lowell, Mich.
Special thanks went to Ann Arbor's task force leaders, Sue and Bob Lorenz and Kathy and Bill Chapin, visitation leaders Claudia and George Ellison, the dedicated volunteer task force and day-of-event volunteers, for organizing a safe, fun-filled event.
