Motorcyclists in Atlanta, Richmond and Cleveland joined forces yesterday to raise $285,247 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® (PBTF). First Ride for Kids® city marks 27 years The Ride for Kids® began in Atlanta in 1984, when a handful of riders raised $4,000. Support in the riding community is still going strong in 2010, with 550 participants bringing $110,712 in contributions yesterday. The crowd gathered at North Point Mall in Alpharetta on a warm, cloudy morning before the ride up to north Georgia. At the end point in Dahlonega, 12 brain tumor survivors told the riders about life with a brain tumor. Samuel, 13, said, “I was scared for a few weeks that I wouldn’t be alive and well, but y’all just flipped my situation completely around.” The crowd also heard from Dr. Claire Mazewski of Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, who explained that every dollar makes a difference. Those dollars are raised one at a time by motorcyclists around the nation. In Atlanta, the top fundraisers were: * Individuals: Jennifer & Brian Duke, $13,267 * Club/Chapter: GWRRA GA-T, $9,611 * Motorcycle Business: Earl Small Harley-Davidson, $13,267 A big thank-you went to the many volunteers who organized the Atlanta event, including task force leaders Bob and Deb Johnston, Tommy Smith, Mike and Sue Malone, Danny and Janet Mackey, Donna Nealey and Dennis Gapinski. Richmond revs it up It was Ride for Kids® Day again in Virginia yesterday, and more than 325 motorcyclists and supporters turned out to celebrate with $103,959 in donations to the PBTF. The weather was hot and humid as the riders left the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Mechanicsville for a tour of the countryside. Back under the tent for the Celebration of Life, they honored the six local brain tumor survivors who participated in the ride, including PBTF scholarship recipients Amy, Allie and Tiffany. Damiyan, an 11-year-old who attended for the first time, said, “It was so much fun riding in the ride. I want to thank everyone for supporting me and my family.” Richmond’s top fundraisers were: * Individuals: Mike Phillips, $16,050 * Club/Chapter: Richmond Riders, $18,550 * Motorcycle Business: Richmond Honda House, $27,552 Many thanks went to the local task force and volunteers who planned the event. This team was led by Mike Seibert, Kerry Abrams, Paul Alexander and Linda Carr. Cleveland rocks the ride Riders in Cleveland raised $70,576 for the PBTF, a 17 percent increase over the previous year’s total. Despite heavy rains and high winds, more than 250 riders and Ride for Kids® fans came out to support the kids at Rocky River High School. The rain stopped in time for the ride through the verdant Cleveland Metroparks. The riders traveled to Woodridge Middle School in Peninsula for the Celebration of Life program, dedicated to the accomplishments of 12 local brain tumor survivors. From 5-year-old Emily to inspirational adults like Lindy and Amie, these “stars” reminded the riders what the day was all about. Dr. Gerald Plautz from the Cleveland Clinic Hospitals did the same. “This disease takes a toll on these survivors and their families,” he said. “But the research funded with the money you raise gives them a reason to hope.” That hope is funded by caring people who work hard all year long to raise funds. Cleveland’s leading fundraisers were: * Individuals: Tim & Carol Beck, $6,023 * Club/Chapter: Women on Wheels Rumblepack, $9,167 * Motorcycle Business: Sills Motor Sales, $19,282 Rumblepack and Sills Motor Sales both doubled what they raised last year. Many dedicated volunteers made the Cleveland Ride for Kids® a success. The local task force was led by Ruth and David Ostoich and Frank Strack. 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. The 2010 Ride for Kids® season continues on June 13 with an event in Golden, Colo. For more information, go to www.rideforkids.org or call 800-253-6530.