It was a banner weekend for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF), with four events taking place around the country on June 7. Motorcyclists in Richmond, Va., Atlanta, Ga., Cleveland, Ohio, and Golden, Colo., joined forces to raise $336,243 for medical research and family support. Richmond rolls over $117,000 The governor proclaimed June 7 Ride for Kids® Day in Virginia, and motorcyclists celebrated by bringing $117,729 to the seventh annual event. A crowd of 400 riders and supporters gathered at the Richmond Times-Dispatch facility in Mechanicsville on a bright, sunny morning. Police escorted the ride through the countryside before coming back for the Celebration of Life program. Eight brain tumor survivors, including PBTF college scholarship recipients Allie, Amy, Jake, Nicholas and Tiffany, shared their inspiring stories. These young people are living proof that motorcyclists are making a difference in the fight against childhood brain tumors. As Dr. Gary Archer, an assistant professor of medical research at Duke University said, “You are the driving force behind the research.” The first-place fundraisers were: * Top Individuals: Mike and Travis Phillips, $20,583 * Top Club/Chapter: Richmond Riders, $27,508 * Top Motorcycle Business: Burcham’s Cycles, $20,732 John Schnoering of Deltaville, Va., won the Honda motorcycle drawing. Heartfelt thanks went to the hardworking local task force and volunteers, led by Kerry Abrams, Mike Seibert, and Linda Carr. Atlanta event marks 26 years The 26th annual Atlanta Ride for Kids® raised $108,925 at its new location, Six Flags Over Georgia. The event attracted 550 motorcyclists and other supporters, including 14 young brain tumor survivors. The Celebration of Life program after the ride gave everyone a chance to hear from these youngsters, as well as parents, fundraisers, and a doctor who treats brain tumor patients. “You’re all making a difference, here and across the nation, raising money for research to develop better and more effective treatments,” said Dr. Claire Mazewski of Children’s Healthcare in Atlanta. The first-place fundraisers were: * Top Individual: E.H. “Buster” Moldenhauer, $11,158 * Top Club/Chapter: GWRRA GA-T, $13,664 * Top Motorcycle Business: Cycle World, $14,109 The winner of the Honda motorcycle drawing was Jay Halter of Alpharetta, Ga. Thanks went to the local event’s task force volunteers, led by Bob Johnston, Tommy Smith, Mike and Sue Malone, Danny and Janet Mackey, Dennis Gapinski and Donna Nealey. Cleveland rocks for 5th ride The Cleveland Ride for Kids® celebrated its fifth event with $60,443 in donations””a 17 percent increase over last year’s announced total. A crowd of 350 turned out at Rocky River High School. The riders enjoyed a gorgeous route through the greenery of Cleveland MetroParks on their way to Woodridge Middle School in Peninsula, where the Celebration of Life program honored nine local youngsters who have survived or are fighting a brain tumor. These Ride for Kids® “stars” included three 11-year-olds, Taylor, Josh and Olivia. “No child should have to live with this terrible disease,” said Carol, whose 4-year-old daughter Emily has a brain tumor. “Our children are living a better life because of you.” Dr. Gerald Plautz, a researcher at the Cleveland Clinic Hospitals, told the motorcyclists that their donations give these children and their families a reason to hope. The first-place fundraisers were: * Top Individual: Carol Beck, $5,226 * Top Club/Chapter: Women on Wheels Rumble Pack, $4,839 * Top Motorcycle Business: Sills Motor Sales, $8,810 Tiffin Bak of Parma, Ohio, won the grand prize, a new Honda motorcycle. The Cleveland event was organized by a dedicated group of volunteers, led by Ruth and Dave Ostoich, Frank Strack and Terrie Leighliter. Riders mine $49,000 in Colorado It was a Golden day in Colorado, where the sixth annual Ride for Kids® garnered $49,146 in donations. Nearly 250 people came to the event at the Jefferson County Human Services facility in Golden. Participating motorcyclists enjoyed a stunning ride over the winding canyon roads of the Front Range before returning for the Celebration of Life. The crowd heard from four local brain tumor survivors, as well as Dr. Nicholas Foreman, director of pediatric neuro-oncology at Children’s Hospital in Denver. The program also recognized many outstanding fundraisers, one of whom said from his heart, “When I see the kids and how tough their lives are and the futures they have ahead of them, I have to help.” The first-place fundraisers were: * Top Individual: Pam McCombs, $7,240 * Top Club/Chapter: GWRRA CO-L, $12,126 * Top Motorcycle Business: Apex Sports, $12,106 The Honda motorcycle drawing winner was Anne Williamson of Lakewood, Colo. Many thanks went to task force leaders P.J. Wilderman, Chris Spanos, Mike Ackerman and Linda Shelley, along with their great volunteers. 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. America’s motorcycling community has helped the PBTF become the world’s largest non-governmental source of funding for childhood brain tumor research. For more information, go to http://www.rideforkids.org/ or call 800-253-6530.