The 2007 Ride for Kids® season ended with a big win in Sarasota on Nov. 4, when generous motorcyclists raised nearly $86,000 to help kids with brain tumors. Proceeds benefit the medical research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF).
A crowd of 445 gathered at sunrise at Sarasota County Technical Institute before the ride. Heading east from the city under blue skies, the motorcyclists and their police escort passed rural areas of Sarasota before meandering through beautiful Myakka State Park. There riders had glimpses of deer grazing in the prairies as they traveled back through time to an old Florida that is quickly disappearing.
Back at Sarasota Tech after the ride, the Celebration of Life program got underway with five local brain tumor patients. These Ride for Kids® "stars" included 2-year-old Sara and Corey, 21, a PBTF scholarship recipient.
Dr. Carola Fleener, a local pediatrician, and Dr. Stacy Stapleton, director of pediatric neuro-oncology at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, were on hand to let the fundraisers know how their dollars are used for research.
"Research is the key to finding new and better treatment protocols, which will give clinicians the tools they need to treat children more effectively," said Dr. Stapleton.
The Sarasota event raised a total of $85,968, with top individual fundraisers Skip and Renee Halback of Venice, Fla., contributing $11,006. Hap's Gulf Coast Riders of Sarasota raised $26,580 to make it the top club/chapter. Along with other customers of Hap's Cycle Sales of Sarasota, they made it the top motorcycle business with $34,556 in donations. Scott and Jennifer Koenig of Sanford, Fla., won the grand prize Honda motorcycle.
Heartfelt thanks went to the Sarasota event's local organizers, captained by Sheryl and John Stutzman and visitation leaders Greg and Marie Lough. Along with the hardworking task force and event volunteers, they gave the kids a day to remember.
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