Motorcyclists raised $291,206 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) yesterday at Ride for Kids® events in Fairfield, Calif., Grapevine, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nev. Northern California rides join forces for $120,000 This year the Sacramento and San Francisco events combined to create the 17th Northern California Ride for Kids®. The 450 motorcyclists and supporters who gathered at Solano Community College in Fairfield went on to raise $120,273 for the PBTF. The weather was clear and sunny as a police escort took the riders on a tour of wine country, complete with views of vineyards, mountains and farmland. When the riders returned to the college, the Celebration of Life program recognized top fundraisers as well as 12 local brain tumor survivors. The youngest, Reiana and Liliyana, were only 4 years old. One father spoke movingly of the challenges facing his 6-year-old son. “Right now Elias has a tumor,” said Ulises. “He is a young, innocent child. We are thankful for your support.” Dr. Michael Edwards, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, also thanked the motorcyclists for doing so much to fund childhood brain tumor research. The top fundraisers were: * Individual: Ann and Kirk Harry, $20,000 * Chapter/Club: Capital City Wings (GWRRA CA-C), $27,278 * Motorcycle Business: Fairfield Cycle Center, $22,120 The grand prize, a new Honda motorcycle, went to Charles Horner of Shingletown, Calif. The Northern California Ride for Kids® was organized by task force leaders Jon and Cathy Carlson, Jack and Lillian Cushman, and Steve Long, with assistance from dozens of volunteers. Seven years of success in Dallas/Fort Worth The Dallas/Fort Worth Ride for Kids® celebrated its seventh anniversary by raising $115,024 for the PBTF yesterday. Drizzly, brisk weather greeted the 150 participants at Grapevine Mills Mall outside of Dallas. The motorcyclists and their police escort went through picturesque north Texas, passing horse farms and pastureland along the way. Back at the mall, the Celebration of Life program honored seven Ride for Kids® “stars,” including 3-year-old Josephine. Rachel T., now 26, spoke about being diagnosed with cancer as a teenager. “Ten years ago I had a tumor the size of an orange,” she said. “Now it is the size of a dime “¦ thanks to you we have options that make me feel like going on.” The group also heard from Dr. Jeffrey C. Murray, a neuro-oncologist at Cook Children’s Medical Center. The first-place fundraisers were: * Individual: Sam Caine, $16,480 * Chapter/Club: Caden Johnson Memorial Fund, $29,176 * Motorcycle Business: Maxim Honda, $24,413 Angel Bright of Haslet, Texas, won the grand prize, a new Honda motorcycle. Special thanks went to the event’s all-volunteer task force, led this year by Gary and Julie Touchstone, Jeff Latimer, Fetch Daniel, Gen White, and Pam and Shane Sutton. Hannah and Luis Windy weather doesn’t deter Las Vegas riders Despite ferocious winds that knocked over event tents and caused power outages, over 425 motorcyclists and supporters came out for the Las Vegas Ride for Kids®, which raised $55,909 for the PBTF. The fifth annual event left from Las Vegas Motor Speedway and traveled through Red Rock Canyon en route to the end point in Blue Diamond. During the Celebration of Life program participants heard from eight local brain tumor survivors, including 2-year-old Grady and Devin, a PBTF college scholarship recipient. Pediatric oncologist Dr. Jonathan Bernstein of Sunrise Hospital thanked the fundraisers for their support. “Without your generosity these research grants would not be available and a lot of the new treatments would not have been developed,” he said. The event’s No. 1 fundraisers were: * Individual: Susan Clift, $7,476 * Chapter/Club: Buffalo Soldiers of Las Vegas, $9,500 * Motorcycle Business: Carter Powersports, $12,526 Terry Dale of Henderson, Nev., won the drawing for a new Honda motorcycle. Many thanks went to Charli and Dave Carter, Tami Belt, and Frank Kostelac, who led the Las Vegas Ride for Kids® volunteer task force this year. 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 next Ride for Kids® event is on Oct. 11 in Phoenix. For more information, go to http://www.rideforkids.org/ or call 800-253-6530.