It was a spectacular summer day as 425 motorcyclists, fundraisers and patient families gathered for the 15th annual Marysville, Ohio, Ride for Kids on Saturday, July 29. The bighearted group raised $104,134 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's research and family support programs.
The police-escorted motorcycle ride left from the Honda of America Manufacturing plant, where the annual Honda Homecoming was taking place. The route went through rural Union, Logan and Shelby counties, full of lush rolling hills and fields of summer corn.
When the motorcyclists returned to the Honda plant, they were treated to a marvelous Celebration of Life program starring five local brain tumor survivors: Erin, 6, Seth and Jenna, 7, Jason, 12, and Matt, 18. "We're glad to be here and we will keep coming back until there is a cure," said Seth's dad, Todd.
Dr. Amanda Termuhlen, associate chief of pediatric oncology at Columbus Children's Hospital, told the crowd how important their fundraising efforts are to her research into brain tumors. "We've all heard the child in the backseat asking 'are we there yet?' Well, we're not there, but we are getting closer," she said.
Top individual fundraiser honors went to Kathy and Sam Straughn of Ashland, Va., who raised $9,025. The top club, GWRRA Ohio Chapter B2, brought in $24,426, and the customers of Marysville Honda raised $22,088 to make it the top motorcycle business. Beverly Campbell of Harrod, Ohio, won the grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle.
Special thanks went to Marysville Ride for Kids task force leaders Altrece Hogans and LouAnn McKeen, visitation leader Ken Denman, the hardworking task force members and day-of-event volunteers, for hosting a terrific event.
