Cleveland-area motorcyclists rode together at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's (PBTF) Ride for Kids® event on June 11 to raise more than $34,900 for medical research and family support programs.
Two hundred and seventy-five participants gathered on a cool, sunny morning for the second annual event at Rocky River High School. They followed a police escort over the winding roads of the Cleveland Metro Parks past many streams, where deer watched the motorcycles go by.
The Celebration of Life program featured three local pediatric brain tumor survivors: Sam, 9, D.J., 13, and Aimee, 25. "You don't know how much your participation means to our family," said Sam's mom, Sandy. "I am thankful for this experience and actually feel blessed."
The medical community was represented by pediatric oncologist Dr. Chad Jacobsen, who said, "The work the PBTF does with the funds you raise allows us to help make these kids better."
The total raised at the Cleveland event was $34,970. The top individual fundraisers were Rich and Jennifer Silva of Cleveland, who brought $9,077. The top club was GWRRA Ohio Chapter C3 with $7,807, while the customers of Honda of Avon, Ohio, donated $6,058 to make it the top motorcycle business. The grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle, went to Frank Strack of Brunswick, Ohio.
Special thanks went to Cleveland's task force leaders, Ruth and David Ostoich and Jennifer and Rich Silva, along with their hardworking volunteer task force and day-of-event volunteers, for organizing a great event.
