The 2007 Chicagoland Ride for Kids® was the program's most successful event ever, raising more than $400,000. This phenomenal result represents a whopping 8.4 percent increase over last year's event.
The excitement began early on Sunday morning as more than 2,600 motorcyclists and supporters flocked to the beautiful Allstate Insurance campus in South Barrington, Ill. Spring-like weather made for a great riding day.
The motorcyclists enjoyed a police-escorted tour of the rural countryside northwest of Chicago, crossing back and forth over the Fox River before returning to the Allstate campus. There they joined the jubilant Celebration of Life program. From 6-year-olds Nikki and Tristen to teenagers like Melanie, 14 brain tumor patients shared their inspiring stories.
The standing-room-only crowd also heard from Carol Sevrey, who lost a child to a brain tumor. "I got goosebumps and tears at my first Chicagoland ride seven years ago," she said. "It gave me hope then and it gives me hope today to be with here with all of you, knowing that other parents won't have to bury their child."
Other VIP guests included Dr. Jason Fangusaro of Children's Memorial Hospital and Detroit Lions wide receiver Marcus Robinson.
The total raised at the 19th annual Chicagoland event was $400,058. The top individual fundraisers were Paul Edick and Linda Szyper of Chicago with $30,800, closely followed by Stacia Skinner and the Robert Gruensfelder family with $29,525.
GWRRA IL Chapter G2 was the top club, contributing $89,468. And on a day filled with many firsts, the customers of powersports dealer Neilsen Enterprises of Lake Villa, Ill., turned in $128,892--a stunning 10.8 percent gain over 2006 and a new record for a dealership. Corey Fishman of Chester, N.J., won the grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle.
Deepest appreciation went to the Chicagoland event's volunteer task force, led by Vito Racanelli, Sandy Berens and Rick Montgomery. Together with their hardworking event volunteers, they organized an unforgettable day of hope for kids with brain tumors.
