Georgia motorcyclists rode together at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s (PBTF) 23rd annual Atlanta Ride for Kids® on June 4 to raise more than $193,000 for research and family support programs.
It was a beautiful spring morning at North Point Mall in Alpharetta as the 885 participants gathered for the Atlanta event. The police-escorted ride followed winding country roads through many small towns, including Dawsonville, hometown of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott.
When the crowd reached the endpoint in Dahlonega, they enjoyed lunch during the moving Celebration of Life program. Twelve local pediatric brain tumor survivors spoke from the stage, including PBTF scholarship recipients Lauren, Julia and Mandy. They were joined by younger children like 13-year-old Jack, who wants to be a brain surgeon, and 7-year-old Mattie, who wants to be a cheerleader.
Marla told the crowd that her daughter Malerie, 8, has come a long way since her diagnosis. "One day I hope that the stage is full of survivors," she said. Other special guests included Jocelyn Dorsey of WSB Channel 2 and nationally syndicated radio host Neal Boortz. "This was my first Ride for Kids, and I'll be back next year because of children like Malerie," he said.
The total raised at the Atlanta event was $193,652. Top individual fundraiser honors went to Tommy Smith of Canton, Ga., who brought $25,000. Members of the top club, GWRRA-GA Chapter W from Woodstock, Ga., turned in $35,415. The top two motorcycle businesses were Gary's Hobbie Shop of McDonough with $21,890 and Cycle World of Athens with $20,220 in donations. The grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle, went to Gordon Foust of Douglasville.
Special thanks went to the Atlanta volunteer task force and day-of-event volunteers for putting together a great event.
