The 17th annual Baltimore/Washington, D.C. Ride for Kids® earned $276,277, topping last year's total by 38 percent.
The chilly morning turned warm and sunny as 625 supporters gathered at The Mall in Columbia for the event. The motorcyclists were treated to a police-escorted tour of Maryland's rolling, twisting country roads before arriving at the Jack & Jill Distribution Center in Columbia for the Celebration of Life program.
The program honored 11 brain tumor survivors, including Ruxandra, 10, and Zachary, 15. Task Force Leader Marcy Rich, mother of survivor Danielle, said to the group: "If not for you, my daughter would not be in college today. Keep up the great work."
The featured medical speaker was Dr. Greg Riggins of the Brain Tumor Center at Johns Hopkins.
Bob Henig, owner of Bob's BMW in Jessup, Md., was top individual fundraiser with $87,826. His dealership was the top motorcycle business, with $106,437 in customer contributions. The top club/chapter was The Tribe, whose members raised $23,627. Jim Lerro of Arnold, Md., won the grand prize drawing for a Honda motorcycle.
Heartfelt thanks went to the hardworking event volunteers and task force members, led by Taryn Wilson-Wheatley, Joe Pruss and Marcy Rich.
