Ride for Kids® events in North Carolina, Michigan raise more than $180,000
August 29, 2011
Motorcyclists
brought $180,681 in donations to Ride for Kids® events in Asheville,
N.C., and Ann Arbor, Mich., yesterday. The funds benefit medical
research and family support programs at the Pediatric Brain Tumor
Foundation® (PBTF).
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Asheville star Brady is all smiles before his sidecar ride. |
A beautiful day for the kids in Asheville
Long
before "Good Morning America" named Asheville one of the 10 most
beautiful places in the nation, motorcyclists were enjoying the area's
scenic rides. The Asheville Ride for Kids®, which travels the Blue Ridge
Parkway on its way to Lake Lure, is one of the best. This year's event
raised $113,815 for the PBTF on Aug. 28.
The crowd of 550
gathered on a sunny, breezy day at Biltmore Square Mall to ride for
brain tumor survivors Aaron, Sarah, Elijah, Hannah, Brady, Julia, Seth,
Matthew, and Travis.
Many of these young people have been
treated by Dr. Gerald Grant, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Duke University
Children's Hospital. "This foundation has just been tremendous," he
told the fundraisers during the post-ride program. "And it's not only in
research, it's all the work in quality of life and everything we can do
to get these kids happy and enjoying day-to-day life, because that's
what they really care about."
Ride for Kids® fundraisers provide
the seed money to make research and family support possible. The top
contributors in Asheville this year were:
- Individual: Ferguson Family Foundation, $30,000
- Club/Chapter: Members of GWRRA NC-M2, $41,691
- Motorcycle Business: Customers of MR Motorcycle, $20,001
Donated drawing prizes went to Renae Turner (Honda motorcycle); Evan
Parton (AGV helmet); Larry Craig (Dunlop tire); Becky Lees (Tourmaster
luggage); and Mike Coral (Cardo Systems headset).
The Asheville
Ride for Kids® was organized by a dedicated volunteer task force, led by
Pat Harvey, Lynn Brooks and Bruce Lobach. Mark your calendar now for
the next ride on Aug. 26, 2012.
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Hudson Valley star James speaks to the crowd. |
20 years of helping kids in Michigan
Dual sport
and road riders converged on Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor on
Aug. 28 for the 20th Michigan Ride for Kids®. Together they raised
$66,866 for the PBTF.
The crowd of 275 came out to support brain
tumor survivors Andrew, Claire, John, Zachary, Katie, Lee Ann and Ruth.
Many of these "stars" led the semi-rural road ride through central
Michigan on a sunny Sunday morning.
After the ride, the
fundraisers heard from the stars and from 6-year-old Andrew's mom,
Michelle. "Help came to us with support from the PBTF, the Ride for Kids
and folks like you," she said. "We are blessed to have you as our
support."
That support comes from motorcyclists who raise funds all year long. Michigan's leaders were:
- Individuals: Rob & Denni Proctor, $10,000
- Club/Chapter: GWRRA MI-W2 members, $17,622
- Motorcycle Business: Customers of Fred's Bikes and Trikes, $24,856
The donated Ride for Kids® drawing prizes went to Dennis Brooks
(Honda motorcycle); Al Kittle (AGV helmet); Roger Reed (Dunlop tire);
Jeff Dold (Tourmaster luggage); and Kathy Rockwell (Cardo Systems
headset).
Michigan's volunteer task force was led this year by
George and Claudia Ellison and Ralph and Jean Hunt. Ride with us next
year on Sunday, Aug. 26.
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 ©.
