The first Middle Tennessee Ride for Kids raised $40,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation on May 17.
The weather was unseasonably cool and windy, but that didn't stop more than 255 motorcyclists and supporters from gathering at Jim Warren Park in Franklin for the event.
The police-escorted ride went past stately mansions and old tobacco barns, and included a 20-mile stretch on the beautiful, winding Natchez Trace.
Back at the park, the Celebration of Life program recognized the volunteers and fundraisers and honored a very special brain tumor survivor. Hannah, 8, recited a poem she wrote about her cancer.
"Without the support of the Ride for Kids and the work of the PBTF, Hannah wouldn’t be here," her grateful mom, Tracey, told the crowd.
Dr. John F. Kuttesch, director of the pediatric brain tumor program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, praised the motorcyclists for raising funds for research.
The event's announced total was $40,000. The top fundraisers were:
• Top Individuals: Dave and Nancy Miller, $10,225
• Top Club/Chapter: GWRRA TN-A, $14,850
• Top Motorcycle Business: Sloan's Motorcycle, $27,291
First-place fundraiser Dave Miller also won the drawings for a new Honda motorcycle and Dunlop tire.
Miller was instrumental in bringing the event to Middle Tennessee. He attended his first Ride for Kids in Atlanta 10 years ago, then volunteered for several years as leader of the Knoxville event's task force. He and his wife, Nancy, led the new ride's task force with assistance from Otis and Tina Bishop and Jerry and Sharon Hamilton.
