The 2008 Wisconsin Ride for Kids® on Aug. 3 raised $102,570 for the PBTF, a 22 percent increase over last year's announced total.
More than 400 participants, including 10 local brain tumor survivors and their families, gathered at Fireman's Park in Middleton for the fifth annual event. Everyone cheered as the riders and their police escort left the park for a tour of farming communities in southern Wisconsin.
When they returned, the inspirational Celebration of Life program got underway. Many of the children, including Noah, 9, and Lauren, 19, a PBTF scholarship recipient, shared their personal stories.
The fundraisers also heard from Dr. Wade Mueller, professor of neurosurgery at Medical College of Wisconsin. "The federal government is continually reducing its funding of great causes," he said. "The PBTF stands out as an organization that assures the patient families that the funding for research will continue."
The Wisconsin governor's office also proclaimed Aug. 3 Ride for Kids® Day statewide.
Randy and Pam Gulseth of Two Rivers, Wis., were top individual fundraisers with $11,436 in donations. The top club/chapter was GWRRA WI-J with $15,445, and Ace Power Sports of Kenosha turned in $11,478 to be top motorcycle business. Louise Schueller of DeForest, Wis., won the Honda motorcycle drawing.
Special thanks went to the ride's hardworking task force and even volunteers, led by Joe Bentz, Mike Witt and Tim Schueller, and visitation leaders Merle Coggins and Randy Gulseth.
Plan a fundraiser:Each state requires PBTF to approve your fundraiser, so contact us early in your planning process. The first step is to complete our fundraising application.
