SOUTH FLORIDA KICKS OFF 2006 RIDE FOR KIDS® SEASON Hundreds of generous motorcyclists turned in more than $66,000 in donations at the second annual South Florida Ride for Kids® yesterday, bringing hope to childhood brain tumor patients everywhere. The event kicked off the 23rd year of the national Ride for Kids® program, which benefits the medical research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). Led by several young brain tumor survivors in sidecars, the long column of motorcycles left Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise on a breezy, humid day with light rain. The police-escorted ride toured the Broward County countryside on its way to Vista View Park in Davie, which features beautiful lakes and views of the Everglades. A unique feature of the Ride for Kids® program is the Celebration of Life at the conclusion of each ride. As motorcyclists, fundraisers, patient families and volunteers enjoy a light lunch at the endpoint, they hear directly from local pediatric brain tumor survivors. These young “stars” tell their stories and offer thanks to all those who bring donations. At the South Florida event, five survivors shared the stage: Kate, 2; Travis, 11; Nathan, 15; Kaley, 17, and Nicole, 16. Kaley’s dad, Maurice, thanked the crowd of 700 for being there. “God doesn’t always give you the big miracle when you ask for it,” he said. “What he does is bring people into your life to help. You are those people!” The total raised at the South Florida event was $66,676. Top individual fundraiser honors went to Rick and Rita Case, who brought $5,300. The top club, HRCA Florida Sports Red Riders of Stuart, Fla., contributed $16,187, while the customers of Florida Sports Cycles of Stuart made it the top dealership with $16,567 in donations. The grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle, went to Barney Salzberg of Okeechobee, Fla. Special thanks went to South Florida’s hardworking volunteer task force and event volunteers, led by Rhonda and David Friedenberg, Linda Kralik and Monica Tobon. It was an amazing effort from a community that has been literally torn apart by hurricanes in recent months. 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, PBTF has become the world’s largest nongovernmental source of funding for pediatric brain tumor research. The next Ride for Kids® events are Sunday, April 23 in Albuquerque, N.M. (a new ride for 2006) and Sunday, April 30 in Houston. For more information about the Ride for Kids® and the PBTF, go to rideforkids.org or call (800) 253-6530.