From a press release issued by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation:

As the morning sun began its ascent into the sky, washing a path of warmth across the palm trees of south Florida, over 600 motorcyclists rolled into the staging area for the start of the 22nd season of the Ride for Kids® program. This inaugural south Florida event for 2005 launched into the history books as being recorded as one of the most successful first time Ride for Kids events in history with $59,491 in donations turned in for the day.

Virtually every brand of motorcycle was present with riders from all walks of life and numerous divergent motorcycle organizations. This was truly a day of “coming together” by representative riders from the entire motorcycle community!

Not only was the day blessed with incredibly sunny, 80º weather, but the riders were also escorted by an outstanding team of police officers from the Broward County Sheriff’s Department and Coral Springs PD. Once under the Big Top tent for closing ceremonies the riders were treated to a day of emotional and uplifting comments made during the “Celebration of Life” by young brain tumor survivors who enjoyed a regal day as the Stars of the event.

While each motorcyclist present contributed to the days total, Rick and Rita Case were warmly recognized as the Top Individual Fund Raisers with $5,000 in donations, the HRCA Florida Sports Red Riders were the Top Chapter with an amazing first year total of $19,683 in contributions and Florida Sports Cycles was the Top dealership with a tremendous $20,253 collected, all destined to support the work of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in its search to find the cause and cure of brain tumors and to provide support to the patient families. The Honda motorcycle was won by an ecstatic Maree Moscati of Pompano Beach, FL. Thanks also goes to Allstate Insurance Company and numerous south Florida companies for their support of the event.

When the day’s activities were completed, a tired but overjoyed Rhonda Friedenberg volunteer Task Force Leader for the event said, “to see the joy on the kids faces and how very proud the motorcyclists were for their efforts, makes all the time we spent getting ready well worth the work of all of our volunteers”.

The next Ride for Kids event will be on May 1st in Houston, TX. For more information about the Ride for Kids and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation please visit www.rideforkids.org or www.pbtfus.org or call 1-800-253-6530