Sacramento Ride for Kids adds $136K to brain tumor research effort
6 October 2000
Sunday October 1 was an extra special day for eighteen children and teenagers who are fighting brain tumors. These brave "survivors", along with their parents, grandparents and siblings joined with 750 motorcyclists at the annual Ride for Kids event in Sacramento, California and together raised $136,272 to find the cause and cure of pediatric brain tumors. Under wonderfully clear skies, the riders had a joyful ride as they were escorted from the All Pro Auto Parts Headquarters in Sacramento to the Amador County Fairgrounds by ten California Highway Patrol Officers on their motorcycles. Following closely behind the officers was one of this year's ride leaders, Dr. Mike Edwards of the Sutter Healthcare Facility in Sacramento on his brand new Honda RC-51. Upon their arrival at the fairgrounds, the riders gathered under a large circus tent for an event known to Ride for Kids participants as the Celebration of Life. The group listened intently as Jeff Smart, father of 8-year old brain tumor survivor Juston, shared how Dr. Edwards diagnosis and treatment saved Juston's life. Dr. Edwards told the group that he has been a motorcycle rider since his early teens and is immensely proud to be a rider, as a well as a doctor, involved in saving the lives of children with brain tumors. Congratulations to top individual fundraisers Charles and Phyllis Horner who brought $10,200 to fund the much needed research to end this disease. GWRRA California Chapter 2N took top club honors with $26,118. Top dealer honors went to Malott's Honda Yamaha of Manteca who, along with their customers and friends, brought $27,198. A flabbergasted Frank G. Deniz III was the lucky winner of the brand new Honda motorcycle, courtesy of American Honda. A special thanks goes out to volunteer Task Force Leaders Jon and Kathy Carlson, who worked all year with the Sacramento Task Force, and to the dozens of volunteers who helped make this event a wonderful day for the kids. The next Ride for Kids event will be held on Sunday October 8, 2000 in the Phoenix, AZ area.. For more information on the Ride for Kids and the work of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the U.S., call 828-665-6891 or visit the web sites at http://www.ride4kids.org or http://www.pbtfus.org. END