Hundreds of generous motorcyclists turned in more than $66,000 in donations at the second annual South Florida Ride for Kids® on Jan. 22, bringing hope to childhood brain tumor patients everywhere. The event kicked off the 23rd year of the national Ride for Kids® program, which benefits the medical research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF).
Led by several young brain tumor survivors in sidecars, the long column of motorcycles left Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise on a breezy, humid day with light rain. The police-escorted ride toured the Broward County countryside on its way to Vista View Park in Davie.
A unique feature of the Ride for Kids® program is the Celebration of Life at the conclusion of each ride. As motorcyclists, fundraisers, patient families and volunteers enjoy a light lunch at the endpoint, they hear directly from local pediatric brain tumor survivors. These young "stars" tell their stories and offer thanks to all those who bring donations.
At the South Florida event, five survivors shared the stage: Kate, 2; Travis, 11; Nathan, 15; Kaley, 17, and Nicole, 16. Kaley's dad, Maurice, thanked the crowd of 700 for being there. "God doesn't always give you the big miracle when you ask for it," he said. "What he does is bring people into your life to help. You are those people!"
The total raised at the South Florida event was $66,676. Top individual fundraiser honors went to Rita and Rick Case, who brought $5,300. The top club, HRCA Florida Sports Red Riders of Stuart, Fla., contributed $16,187, while the customers of Florida Sports Cycles of Stuart made it the top dealership with $16,567 in donations. The grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle, went to Barney Salzberg of Okeechobee, Fla.
Special thanks went to South Florida's hardworking volunteer task force and event volunteers, led by Rhonda and David Friedenberg, Linda Kralik and Monica Tobon. It was an amazing effort from a community that had been literally torn apart by hurricanes in recent months.
