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.
About the PBTF Ride for Kids:
The national Ride for Kids program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) promote childhood brain tumor research and provide family support through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships. The 2010 Ride for Kids season continues on July 18 with events in Chicagoland, Minnesota, and Utica, N.Y. For more information, go to http://www.rideforkids.org/ or call 800-253-6530.
