Motorcyclists at Ride for Kids® events in Illinois, New York and Minnesota rode together to raise well over half a million dollars for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) on July 20. Chicagoland leads nation with $387,000 More than 1,400 supporters at the 20th annual Chicagoland Ride for Kids® raised $387,026 on a hot, sunny day in Elgin, Ill. The police-escorted ride through the rural countryside northwest of Chicago crossed the Fox River before looping back to Elgin Community College for the moving Celebration of Life program. Many of the young people shared their inspirational stories with the fundraisers. Said PBTF scholarship recipient Melanie, 18, “Because of every one of you we are able to be here today.” The crowd also heard from Dr. Jason Fangusaro of Children’s Memorial Hospital. The top individual fundraisers were Stacia and Steve Skinner of Mt. Prospect, Ill., who brought $31,647 in donations. Wings Over the Prairie of Woodstock, Ill., donated $61,961 to be named top club/chapter. The customers of Nielsen Enterprises of Lake Villa, Ill., made it the top motorcycle business once again with $109,950 in donations. The grand-prize Honda motorcycle went to April Moffa of Palatine, Ill. Congratulations and thanks go to Chicagoland’s hardworking task force and event volunteers, led by Vito Racanelli, Sandy Berens, Carol Sevrey, Bob Wagner and visitation leader Rick Montgomery. Their dedication made the event a huge success. Utica riders don’t let rain hold them back The 11th annual Utica Ride for Kids® brought in $102,745 on a rainy Sunday morning. Five local brain tumor patients led the police-escorted ride, which traveled through the deeply wooded terrain of the Adirondack foothills before reaching Old Forge Pavilion in the Town of Webb. There the 425 participants gathered to celebrate the children, including PBTF scholarship recipient Shereen, 17, and Mackenzie, 12. Connie, mother of 9-year-old Hunter, thanked the crowd for their efforts. “You’re the reason Hunter is still here, because he was and is part of a research program,” she said. VIPs in attendance included U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri. The top individual fundraisers, with $11,550 in donations, were Peter and Jill Weidman of Queensbury, N.Y. They also won the grand prize, a new Honda motorcycle. GWRRA members from around the region pooled their funds to make GWRRA the top fundraising club/chapter, raising $44,778. Customers of Sportline Power Products brought $12,925 to make it the top motorcycle business. A big hand goes to the local task force and event volunteers, led by Ken and Kathy Sweatman and Steve and Karen Clary. Minnesota motorcyclists top $65,000 Minnesota’s 16th annual Ride for Kids® event raised $65,605 on a clear, sunny morning at East Century College in White Bear Lake. The scenic police-escorted ride through Washington County followed the St. Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway, before returning for the Celebration of Life program. The 350 participants included seven local brain tumor survivors, from Katelyn, 9, to PBTF scholarship recipient Jake, 18. However, the loss of star Kyle Tierney, who died in March, was felt keenly. His family attended in his memory, as did the families of the late Allana Creager and Will Vossen. Dr. Chris Moertel, clinical director of the Brain Tumor Program at the University of Minnesota, said that support from motorcyclists is the key to finding the cure. “We all have to work together to solve this problem,” he said. “If we can figure out why this happens, the next step is to figure out how to cure it.” Jerry and Linda Buchholz of Coon Rapids, Minn., were the top individual fundraisers with $5,740 in donations. The top club/chapter was MN Wings (Midwest) with $6,570. Customers of Moon Motorsports in Monticello raised $12,341 to make it the top motorcycle business. The grand prize, a new Honda motorcycle, went to Marilyn Elkie of St. Michael, Minn. Thanks to all of the dedicated event volunteers and key task force members, including Denny Schouveller, Sr., Mark and Jenelle Koch, and Dan and Maggie Larson, who worked so hard to make this day a success for the kids. About the PBTF Ride for Kids® 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 through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships. 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. The 25th PBTF Ride for Kids® season continues on Saturday, July 26 in Marysville, Ohio, and Sunday, July 27 in Kansas City, Kansas. For more information, go to rideforkids.org or call 800-253-6530. Lap of Champions