Generous motorcyclists at the seventh annual Birmingham Ride for Kids® yesterday raised $105,681 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. This set a fundraising record for the Birmingham event and represented a 16 percent increase over last year's announced total.
Barber Motorsports Park hosted the event, which attracted 440 participants. The breezy morning was just right for a ride on winding country roads past horse farms. When the motorcyclists returned they were treated to two laps around Barber's speedway.
The end point also featured the Celebration of Life program, which honored four local brain tumor survivors. Molly, 7, Karissa, 8, Matt, 10, and Bayleigh, 11, thanked the fundraisers for their help. The event was dedicated to the memory of four deceased Ride for Kids® stars, Joshua Chaves, Avery Ann Hildreth, Ryan Otto, and Meghan Tapscott.
Dr. G. Yancey Gillespie, professor of neurosurgery and director of brain tumor research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said, "Mother Nature doesn't turn over her secrets very easily, but we are creeping up on the problem, and every dollar you raise gets us one step closer to the cure."
Bill Smith of Alabaster, Ala., was the top individual fundraiser with $9,005. He also won the drawing for the grand prize, a new Honda motorcycle.
The top chapter/club was GWRRA AL-B (Rocket City Wings) of Huntsville, Ala., whose members raised $17,514. Action Lock & Trikes of Huntsville was the top motorcycle business with $21,758 in customer contributions.
Thanks for a record-setting day of hope went to the event's volunteer task force, led by Bill and Joyce Smith, Roy and Anita Fosnight, and Stacy Ashby.
