More than 425 motorcyclists and supporters turned out for the 2007 Phoenix Ride for Kids® on Oct. 14. Together they raised $82,837 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's medical research and family support programs.
It was a beautiful day at Desert Ridge High School in Mesa, where the crowd gathered in the Sunday morning sunshine. The police-escorted ride traveled through red rock formations on the back desert roads of the Phoenix area.
After the ride, the uplifing Celebration of Life program got underway. Ten local brain tumor patients and their families shared the stage to let the crowd know about their experience with the disease.
"You all are so important to our future," said Cheri, mom of 12-year-old Natalie. Added Rosalena, 17, "Thank you for supporting us. It means so much to all of us."
Dr. Michael Etzl of Phoenix Children's Hospital was also on hand to tell the fundraisers how their dollars are used for research. Other special guests included GWRRA Executive Director Melissa Nordeoff.
The top individual fundraisers were Mary Jo and Scott White, whose Nikki's Hope Foundation raised $11,000 in memory of their daughter who died of a brain tumor. GWRRA AZ Chapter D took top club/chapter honors with $8,842 in contributions, and the customers of RideNow Powersports of Tempe raised $12,486 to make it the top motorcycle business. Marana, Ariz., resident Marian Hall won the grand prize, a new Honda motorcycle.
Special thanks went to the local Ride for Kids® task force leaders, Edie and Dave Hewitt, Warren Owen, and visitation leader Greg Coinman. Together with the hardworking task force and day of event volunteers, they gave the kids a fantastic day.
