Gorgeous riding weather greeted the 420 motorcyclists and fundraisers in the second annual Las Vegas Ride for Kids® as they gathered at Freddie Spencer's Riding School at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 1. Together they raised $62,795 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's (PBTF) medical research and family support programs.
Motorcyclists followed their police escort on a beautiful, winding route through the spectacular Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on their way to the community of Blue Diamond, nestled in the mountains outside Las Vegas.
There they joined seven brain tumor survivors and their families under a big-top tent for the inspirational Celebration of Life program. The crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to Tobin, who turned 14 that day, and heard from Jim, the father of 4-year-old Maya.
"When the doctors came and took Maya from our arms for her surgery, we didn’t know what would happen. We felt so alone," he said. "To know that people like you are there to help us when we fall is amazing!"
Pediatric oncologist Dr. Soumen Khatua of the Pediatric Blood and Cancer Center at Redrock Medical Group was also on hand to tell the fundraisers how their efforts change lives.
The Las Vegas event raised a total of $62,795 with the help of top individual fundraisers Nico and Frankie Giordano of Henderson, Nev., who turned in $13,528. The top Club was Team Loomis of Las Vegas, which contributed $21,813, and the top motorcycle business was Carter Powersports of Las Vegas with $20,393 in customer donations. The grand-prize Honda motorcycle went to William Stalsworth of Henderson.
Special thanks went to the Las Vegas task force leaders, Charli and Dave Carter and Kelly and Sean Connery, visitation leader Bill Foster, the dedicated volunteer task force, and event volunteers, for organizing a phenomenal event.
