INDIANA PBTF RIDE FOR KIDS® RAISES $47,000 FOR BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH Generous motorcyclists opened their hearts and wallets in South Bend, Ind., over the weekend, raising a record amount at the area’s fourth annual Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) Ride for Kids® event. Thanks to their efforts, the event raised more than $47,000 for the PBTF’s medical research and family support programs. The riders gathered at Pinhook Park under sunny skies, then followed a police escort along the gorgeous rural countryside of northwest Indiana. After looping back to the park, they rejoined other fundraisers, volunteers, brain tumor survivors and their families for the moving Celebration of Life program. Nine local pediatric brain tumor survivors spoke from the stage, ranging in age from Isabella, 4, to Karma, 20. Scott, whose son Nick died of a brain tumor, told the crowd of 375, “I am honored and proud to be here to thank all of you for supporting my family in my wonderful son’s memory.” Another inspiration came from nurse practitioner Lyn Stevens of St. Anthony Memorial in Michigan City, Ind., who survived a brain tumor 42 years ago. The crowd also heard from the mayor of South Bend, Stephen Luecke, who said, “The city of South Bend is so proud and delighted to partner with all of you in the drive to find a cure to put an end to this terrible disease.” The total raised at the Indiana event was $47,018. The top individual fundraiser was 8-year-old brain tumor survivor “Lightning” Lucas Moore of LaPorte, who raised $7,476 through an ad he placed in his local newspaper. Members of the top club, GWRRA IN Chapter R2, turned in $8,962. The top motorcycle business was Sanders Cycle of Rensselaer with $5,210 in donations. The grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle, went to Jennifer and Tony Certa of Valparaiso. Heartfelt thanks to the Indiana ride’s volunteer task force leaders, Jennifer and Tony Certa and Sandy and Fred Johnson, visitation leaders Bobby and Claudette Newman, task force members and day-of-event volunteers, for putting together a phenomenal event. About the PBTF Ride for Kids® Since 1984, the national Ride for Kids® program and 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 motorcyclists and motorcycle dealers, the PBTF has become the world’s largest nongovernmental source of funding for pediatric brain tumor research. The next PBTF Ride for Kids® events are Sunday, July 16 in South Barrington, Ill., and Utica, N.Y. For more information, go to www.rideforkids.org or call 800-253-6530.