Beautiful blue skies in South Bend, Ind., made for a great day for the Ride for Kids® on July 11. Over 350 motorcyclists, fundraisers, volunteers and families turned out for the event, which raised $71,866 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® (PBTF).
Nine local brain tumor survivors accompanied the 90-minute ride through rural Indiana. These “stars”—including 6-year-old Carrie and PBTF scholarship recipient Libby, 19—returned to Pinhook Park after the ride for a moving Celebration of Life.
Carrie’s mom, Katrina, told the riders that their support goes a long way. “This disease tears families apart,” she said. “Thank you so much for all you do to help us.”
Adult brain tumor survivor Lyn Stevens, a nurse practitioner with St. Anthony Memorial Health Center in Michigan City, Ind., spoke for herself as well as the medical community when she said, “There is always a silver lining in a gray cloud and you are it.”
The event’s top fundraisers were:
- Individuals: E.J. & Georgia Ford, $17,005
- Club/Chapter: GWRRA IN-R2, $21,045
- Motorcycle Business: B&E Honda, $21,075
Many thanks go to South Bend’s volunteer task force, led this year by Bobby Newman, E.J. and Georgia Ford, Fred Johnson, John Zepik and Tony Certa.
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.
