Ride for Kids® breaks record with $4.5 million raised in 2007; program kicks off 25th year of hope in 2008
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| Motorcyclists who join a Ride for Kids® fund the PBTF's medical research programs. Our goal is to find a cure for brain tumor patients like Sam, pictured here at the 2007 Cleveland Ride for Kids®. |
Dec. 6, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mary O. Ratcliffe
800-253-6530 or by email
ASHEVILLE, N.C.—The national Ride for Kids® program celebrated a huge victory in 2007, once again breaking its own fundraising record for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). This year's events generated more than $4.5 million to fund medical research and family support programs, proving for the 24th consecutive year that motorcyclists are making a difference for kids with brain tumors.
"The research that motorcyclists fund is bringing exciting new discoveries and a bounty of new opportunities to help save the lives of the children," said PBTF President and Ride for Kids® founder Mike Traynor. "Thanks to their support we will find a way to eradicate this devastating disease."
America's top fundraisers
It doesn't take much to participate in a Ride for Kids® event—just $35 per motorcycle—but many dedicated motorcyclists bring a great deal more. Some are inspired by a personal connection to brain tumors, while others help because the emotional reward is so great.
One rider in search of a cure is Neil Bookman of Jenkintown, Penn. The top individual fundraiser in 2007, Bookman raised $65,365 in memory of his son Tyler, who died of a brain tumor last March.
"You might say that I am highly motivated to help find a cure for this terrible disease," Bookman said. "It took out my son, and I'm committed to take out this disease. By raising funds and awareness, I hope to help prevent another family from enduring what we have been through. I do this to honor my son's life."
Motorcycle chapters, clubs and dealers are also vital to the success of the Ride for Kids® program, because they enthusiastically promote their local events and organize participants. The top fundraising chapter/club in the nation was once again the Gold Wing Road Riders Association of Illinois, Chapter G2, whose members raised $89,468.
Likewise, this year's top motorcycle dealer was Nielsen Enterprises of Lake Villa, Ill., whose customers contributed an unprecedented $128,892. "The total commitment put forward by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation sets a high bar," said owner Ted Nielsen. "Seeing the gratitude and happiness shown by the children and their families makes me want to work even harder to find a cure for this dreadful disease."
Motorcyclists make a difference
One of the nation's leading brain tumor researchers confirms that the motorcycling community's support has a real impact. "The Ride for Kids® has been instrumental in advancing our understanding and improved treatment of childhood brain tumors," said Dr. David James, associate director of the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco. In fact, Ride for Kids® funding helped establish a PBTF research institute at UCSF.
The Ride for Kids® program is grateful for the ongoing support of its presenting sponsor since 1991, the Honda Rider's Club of America, and the hundreds of companies and motorcycle dealers across America who help us reach the motorcycling community. Since its inception in 1984, the Ride for Kids® program has raised more than $37 million for the PBTF.
All makes and brands of motorcycles are welcome at the Ride for Kids®. Events will take place in 37 cities next year, beginning with the 350th Ride for Kids® in Deerfield Beach, Fla., on Jan. 13, 2008. More information is available at www.rideforkids.org.
| 2008 Ride for Kids® Schedule | |
| Jan. 13 | South Florida |
| April 20 | Albuquerque, NM |
| April 27 | Houston, TX |
| May 4 | Los Angeles, CA and Triangle Area, NC |
| June 1 | Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA |
| June 8 | Cleveland, OH; Colorado; and Southern California Dual Sport |
| June 21 | Knoxville, TN |
| June 29 | San Francisco, CA |
| July 13 | Indiana |
| July 20 | Chicagoland, Minnesota, and Utica, NY |
| July 26 | Marysville, OH |
| July 27 | Kansas City, KS |
| Aug. 3 | Hudson Valley, NY and Wisconsin |
| Aug. 10 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Aug. 16 | Utah |
| Aug. 17 | New England |
| Aug. 24 | Asheville, NC and Michigan |
| Sept. 7 | Puget Sound, WA |
| Sept. 14 | Birmingham, AL |
| Sept. 21 | Baltimore/Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA; St. Louis, MO |
| Oct. 5 | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Sacramento, CA |
| Oct. 12 | Phoenix, AZ |
| Oct. 19 | Louisiana; San Diego, CA |
| Nov. 2 | Sarasota, FL |
Since 1984, the national Ride for Kids® program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) have promoted childhood brain tumor research and provided family support. The PBTF offers free literature about brain tumors in English and Spanish, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships for brain tumor patients. With the help of America's motorcycling community, the PBTF has become the world's largest non-governmental source of funding for childhood brain tumor research. For more information, go to www.curethekids.org or call 800-253-6530.
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