Motorcyclists at the sixth annual Pittsburgh Ride for Kids® in Cranberry Township, Penn., on June 18 provided a big boost to kids with brain tumors, raising more than $57,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's research and family support programs.
On this hot summer morning, 375 motorcyclists followed a police escort through beautiful wooded rolling hills and farmland to the campus of Slippery Rock University. There they participated in a special Celebration of Life program featuring five young brain tumor survivors: 18-month-old Zachary, Eliot, 5, Macy, 7, Javon, 9, and Alyssa, 15.
The crowd also heard from Dr. Glenn Gobbel of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "When researchers like me are struggling to make progress," he said, "It's a great comfort to know you are all there with me, working to provide the necessary funds to continue our work."
The total raised at the Pittsburgh ride was $57,369. Top individual fundraiser honors went to Jim and Wendy Kinest, who raised $5,770. The top club, GWRRA-PA Chapter D, brought in $12,503, and the customers of N & R Trike Shop of Belle Vernon, Penn., made it the top motorcycle business by raising $14,999. Shirl McClelland of Grand Valley, Penn., won the grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle.
Special thanks went to Pittsburgh's task force leaders, Bill and Janet Henze, Steve Kovac and Laura Ebbert, along with their hardworking volunteer task force and day-of-event volunteers, for organizing a great Ride for Kids® event.
