Two Ride for Kids events combined to raise $125,847 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) over the weekend.

Hometown ride a great success
The 16th annual Asheville Ride for Kids, which began next door to the PBTF’s headquarters, raised $115,822 on Aug. 30. Over 600 motorcyclists, brain tumor survivors, and supporters participated in the event.

Traveling with a police escort, the riders took the Blue Ridge Parkway on their way to Lake Lure for the main attraction, the Celebration of Life. This program honored the achievements of fundraisers and gave the crowd a chance to meet 11 Ride for Kids “stars.”

These children included 21-month-old Elijah, who is scheduled for brain tumor surgery next month, and 9-year-old Hannah, who receives chemotherapy each Monday.

Three PBTF college scholarship recipients—graduates Julia and Matthew and freshman Seth—were also there to thank the fundraisers and inspire the younger children.

“Your contributions are making a difference all over the world to help us find safer treatments for these kids,” Dr. Gerald Grant, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Duke University Children’s Hospital, told the crowd. “I promise you that 24/7 there are people on our team looking for a cure for this disease.”

Special guests included Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy and Lake Lure Mayor Jim Proctor, both of whom issued proclamations honoring the PBTF. Miss Teen North Carolina International, Christina Roach, also spoke movingly about how her sister’s death from a brain tumor has motivated her to raise awareness about the disease.

The Asheville Ride for Kids task force worked hard all year to make this event a success. Special thanks went to Ruth and Grover Lewis for their volunteer leadership.

Lap of Champions at Moto GP tops $10,000
The weekend also hosted a special Ride for Kids fundraising event during the Moto GP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Aug. 29. Forty riders took a parade lap around the GP track during the second annual Lap of Champions, which raised $10,025 for the PBTF.

Ben Steinberg led the fundraising field with $1,800 in donations. For his efforts, he received a custom-made riding suit. Drawing prizes also included gear from sponsors.

Guest speaker Corey Eastman, marketing director of Cycle World Magazine, thanked the riders for coming out to support the kids.

Special thanks also went to Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s director of operations, Mel Harder, and his team for hosting the event, and to the dealership that provided the lead bikes.

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 events are Sept. 13 in Birmingham, Ala., and Puget Sound, Wash. For more information, go to http://www.pbtfus.org/rideforkids/ or call 800-253-6530.

From a press release issued by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Provided by the American Motorcyclist Association.