Motorcyclists at Ride for Kids® events in Ohio and Kansas broke fundraising records over the weekend in support of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). Marysville smashes 2007 results Generous motorcyclists brought an amazing $136,159 to the 17th annual Marysville Ride for Kids® at Honda HomeComing in Marysville, Ohio, on July 26. The total represents a whopping 67 percent increase over last year’s results. The 450 participants gathered on a warm, sunny morning on the Honda of America Manufacturing campus. Sheriff Rocky Nelson and his deputies led the riders on a leisurely tour of rural Union County, home to many famous covered bridges. The event honored eight local brain tumor survivors, including two PBTF scholarship recipients, Caitlyn and Katie. Along with several younger children, they shared their stories during the Celebration of Life program. “Everyone on this stage is living proof that what you are doing is working,” Katie told the crowd. VIP guests included Dr. Randy Olshefski, medical director of the Brain Tumor Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Jerry Woodruff, who has attended all 17 Ride for Kids® events held at Honda HomeComing. The top individual fundraiser was Kathy Straughn of Ashland, Va., who brought $27,337 in donations. She also won the grand-prize Honda motorcycle. GWTA OH-B was the top club/chapter with $32,836, while WingDreams of Bellefontaine, Ohio, was the top motorcycle business with $32,986 in customer contributions. Extra-special thanks went to the Marysville Ride for Kids® task force, led by Cathy Nicholl and LouAnn Snyder of Honda of America Manufacturing. The volunteers put on an incredible event that brought hope to brain tumor patients everywhere. Kansas City’s fifth ride breaks fundraising record The fifth annual Kansas City Ride for Kids® on Sunday raised $57,154 for the PBTF, a 32 percent increase over last year’s results. Johnson Community College in Overland Park played host to the event, which attracted 250 participants on a warm Kansas morning. The riders and their police ecort passed rolling hills, cornfields, stately old homes and large estates before returning to the college for the Celebration of Life program. The stage under the big-top tent was graced by nine local brain tumor survivors, including 6-year-old Malachi, who just started walking again, and Noah, 7, who likes karate and magic. The crowd also heard from Dr. Richard Shore, assistant professor of pediatrics at Children’s Mercy Hospital. “After checking into the PBTF I realized how much good work they fund, and research is so very important to helping these families and children,” he said. John and Sandra Kiekel of Basehor, Kan., raised $4,500 to be top fundraisers. Top chapter/club honors went to The Parrot Heads of Kansas City, Kan., who brought $5,873, and the customers of Hub Cycle of Independence, Mo., made it the top motorcycle business with $5,410 in donations. “Super Dave” Rosno from Eagle, Wis., won the drawing for a new Honda motorcycle. Thanks went to the local ride’s task force, led by Jeff Griswold and Teresa Meyer. Along with their incredible event volunteers, this team organized a terrific day 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 Sunday, Aug. 3, in Wisconsin and New York state. For more information, go to rideforkids.org or call 800-253-6530.