Ride for Kids® events in Georgia, Virginia, Ohio and New Mexico raise over $346,000 for PBTF

June 6, 2011

June 5 was a busy day at Ride for Kids®, with four events around the country. Together the rides generated $346,586 in donations for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation®.

	Christopher is all smiles as the Atlanta ride departs.

Atlanta heats things up
Motorcyclists at Atlanta’s 28th Ride for Kids® raised $116,537 on an unusually hot June morning.

Nationally syndicated talk show host Neal Boortz was the grand marshal for the ride, which left from North Point Mall in Alpharetta. It followed a combination of four-lane highway and scenic back country roads to the historic gold mining town of Dahlonega.

Once there, the 800 riders and supporters honored the accomplishments of six local brain tumor survivors, Craig, Mandy, Christopher, Malerie, Jessica and Madison. They also heard from Jay, whose daughter Alyssa couldn’t attend.

“This is my fifth year attending this ride, and the help you provide us is amazing,” he said. “The foundation provides help to parents by providing a support group. Especially for us dads, that support goes a long, long way.”

Generous donors and hardworking fundraisers make the PBTF’s family support program possible. In Atlanta, the efforts were led by:

•    Individuals: Jennifer & Brian Duke, in memory of their daughter Hunter, $15,481
•    Club/Chapter: North Georgia Rat Pack, $7,689
•    Motorcycle Business: Cycle World of Athens, $9,735

Congratulations to Atlanta’s drawing prize winners: Donna Cox (Honda motorcycle); Theda Schnute (Dunlop tire); Ray Harmon (AGV helmet); Andy Tierney (Tourmaster gift certificate) and Steve Burwell (Cardo Systems headset).

Volunteers deserve the thanks for planning the Atlanta event. This year’s task force leaders were Steve and Morissa Burwell and Carrie Patterson.

	Richmond stars display the amount raised.

Rain doesn’t stop Richmond
Richmond riders came out in the rain for the Ride for Kids® on June 5, raising $89,488 for the PBTF.

The ride through rural Virginia began and ended at the Richmond Times-Dispatch facility in Mechanicsville. During the post-ride program, the 200 participants heard from brain tumor survivors Amy, Allie, Kevin, Tiffany and Denise, who said, “Ride for Kids has been great to create a community for me and others like me to strive for a better life.” Dr. Yiping He and Dr. Chien-Tsun Kuan of the PBTF Institute at Duke University spoke about how research is saving lives.

That research is funded one donation at a time. Richmond’s top fundraisers were:

•    Individuals: Mike and Annette Phillips, $17,577
•    Club/Chapter: American Legion Post 284, $18,097
•    Motorcycle Business: Commonwealth Powersports, $18,427

Richmond’s drawing prizes went to: Claude Lewis III (Honda motorcycle); John Schnoering (Dunlop tire); Pat Frasher (AGV helmet); E.J. Williamson (Tourmaster gift certificate) and Don Kaysen (Cardo Systems headset).

Many thanks went to the local task force and volunteers who planned the event. This team was led by Mike Seibert, Pete Nelson, Mark Johnson and Ellaine Herring. Thanks also went to the Virginia governor’s office for proclaiming June 5 Ride for Kids® Day in the Commonwealth.

	Becca is one of Cleveland’s shining stars.

Rockin’ and rollin’ in Cleveland
The Cleveland Ride for Kids® continues to smash records, raising 11 percent more this year for a total of $78,861.

More than 450 people turned out for the ride, which began at Rocky River High School. Brain tumor survivors Ryan, Emily, Josh, D.J., Lindy, Lucy, Amie, Jeff, Becca, Anna and Ashley were the stars of the day. Many of them accompanied the ride through Cleveland Metroparks to Woodridge Middle School in Peninsula.

After the ride, these young people had the opportunity to share their stories with the crowd. Another special guest was pediatric oncologist Tanya M. Tekautz of the Cleveland Clinc Hospitals, who said, “We are making great strides with the funds you raise, but there is still a long way to go.”

Leading the fundraising efforts in Cleveland were:

•    Individual: Bill Ward, in memory of his daughter, Olivia, $7,200
•    Club/Chapter: Women on Wheels Rumblepack, $8,160
•    Motorcycle Business: Sills Motor Sales, $13,000

The drawing prize winners in Cleveland were: Cindy Duperow (Honda motorcycle); Gary Weyer (Dunlop tire); Bill Ward (Tourmaster gift certificate) and James Hodges (Cardo Systems headset).

The local task force, led by Ruth and David Ostoich and Frank Strack, worked hard all year on this great event. Next year the ride will leave from a new start point in Independence, Ohio.

	Simmie laughs during the Albuquerque Celebration of Life.

All about the kids in Albuquerque
Despite wildfires near Albuquerque, motorcyclists rode to support children with brain tumors in the area’s sixth Ride for Kids®. The event raised $61,700 for the PBTF.

The cool morning air gave way to warm, hazy weather as the ride left from the Mesa del Sol Fields at Journal Pavilion. Participants traveled over the Land of Enchantment’s beautiful desert roads before returning for the Celebration of Life.

Local brain tumor survivors Megan, Jaiden, Sage, Danielle, Laureen, Matthew H., Simmie, Taylor, and PBTF scholarship recipient Matthew E. inspired the 150 participants. Sage’s mom, Jennifer, thanked the motorcyclists “for being here to help ensure that no other families have to go through this.”

The event’s leading fundraisers were:

•    Individuals: Tom & Donna Mitchell, $10,522
•    Club/Chapter: GWRRA NM-W, $14,327
•    Motorcycle Business: Accessory Pit, $25,571

Albuquerque’s drawing prize winners were: Rick Howell (Honda motorcycle); Cheri Casey (Dunlop tire); Jerry Valdez (AGV helmet); Drew Marto (Tourmaster gift certificate) and Tom Mitchell (Cardo Systems headset).

Many thanks to the local task force, led by Rick and Lynda Howell, Ted and Kathy Bates, and Jackie Cooke, for organizing a great day out for the kids.

Ride for Kids®
302 Ridgefield Ct.
Asheville, NC 28806

828-665-6891
800-253-6530
828-665-6894 (fax)
e-mail: info@rideforkids.org
website: rideforkids.org

All materials of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® and Ride for Kids® contained herein or elsewhere are copyrighted ©.