Rain didn't dampen the spirits of the 175 supporters who turned out for the 17th annual Hudson Valley Ride for Kids®. They brought $101,298 in donations for the PBTF, making the day of the 12 local brain tumor survivors in attendance.
Motorcyclists left Central Valley Elementary School with a police escort for an uninterrupted ride through the foothills of the Catskills. They returned for a moving Celebration of Life program, which gave the children and their families a chance to share their stories.
Danny Lam rode in memory of his daughter Devon, who succumbed to her brain tumor last year. "Thank you all for raising not only funds, but awareness of this terrible disease that took my daughter," he told the riders. "We don't have a choice about being on this Earth, but we do have a choice about what we do, and you guys are making a real difference."
Brain tumor researcher Dr. James Garvin of New York Presbyterian, the University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, represented the medical community.
The top fundraisers were:
- Individuals: Jon and Valerie Ford, $25,005
- Club/Chapter: New Rochelle HOG, $15,432
- Motorcycle Business: Bergen County (N.J.) Harley-Davidson, $11,574
Maryann Cullin of Port Jervis, N.Y., won the drawing for a Honda motorcycle.
A special thank-you went to the local task force and event volunteers, led by Jack Jones, Liz Jones and Mark Perillo.
Read about the 2008 ride
| Get a 2009 Ride for Kids® registration kit |
