Generous motorcyclists at Ride for Kids® events in California and North Carolina combined to raise an amazing $314,586 for childhood brain tumor research yesterday. At the 15th annual Los Angeles event, riders raised a record amount, turning in more than $232,200 in donations. The third annual Triangle Area event also posted its best results ever, more than doubling last year’s total with over $82,300 raised. All proceeds benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). It was overcast and cool in Los Angeles as more than 800 participants met at the headquarters of the American Honda Motor Co. The police-escorted ride followed a beautiful route along the Rancho Palos Verdes seaside bluffs, complete with views of the Pacific Ocean. At the endpoint, the crowd enjoyed lunch during the Celebration of Life program, where they heard directly from 15 local pediatric brain tumor survivors. Among them were several PBTF scholarship recipients, including Amanda, 19, and Michelle, 22. They were joined by another college student, 18-year-old Scott, who said that he’s studying psychology so he “can help kids like me get through what I’ve gone through.” The medical community was represented by Dr. Jonathan Finlay of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, who treats many of the children in attendance. The total raised at the Los Angeles event was $232,266. Top individual fundraiser honors went to Robert & Michael Morales of Highland, Calif., who brought $26,721. They were closely followed by brain tumor survivor Alexa, 8, of Simi Valley, who gathered $25,165 in donations. The top club, Honda Employees Rider’s Club, turned in $32,847, while the customers of Honda of Redlands made it the top motorcycle business with $26,721 in donations. The grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle, went to Denise Anthony of Simi Valley. Special thanks go to the Los Angeles task force leaders, Lori and Mike Whitaker, Jeniffer McMullen and Steven Squire, and visitation leader Louis Vanderveen, along with their dedicated volunteer task force and day-of-event volunteers, for putting together a fantastic event. Across the country in Cary, N.C., part of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Research Triangle, heavy rains couldn’t dampen the spirits of the 350 participants at the Triangle Area Ride for Kids®. The police did a great job of keeping everyone safe on the country roads as they made their way to Carolina Community College’s Emergency Training Facility in Sanford. The mood was festive under the big-top tent at the endpoint, where the Celebration of Life featured eight local pediatric brain tumor survivors. Many are patients at the nearby Duke University Medical Center, home of the PBTF Institute, which is dedicated to childhood brain tumor research. One of its leading scientists, Dr. Hai Yan, thanked the crowd for its efforts. “The funds you all raise are so important because research dollars today are very scarce,” he said. The stars of the day included Nicholas, 5, who has a white leader belt in Tae Kwon Do, and Cayce, 20, who will attend college this year with the help of a PBTF scholarship. Carrie, the mother of 3-year-old Camden, said that her son “was diagnosed at 6 months and went in for surgery 24 hours later. We went in with fear and came out with hope.” The total raised at the Triangle event was $82,320. The top individual fundraisers were Jerry Hart and Nelson Brewer of Raleigh, who brought $15,818. The top club, GWRRA NC-E2 of Elizabeth City, brought $15,581, closely followed by the Blue Knights of N.C., Chapter 2, with $15,218. The top two motorcycle businesses were Turner’s Honda of Elizabeth City with $21,246 and Ray Price Harley-Davidson of Raleigh, with $19,959 in customer donations. The grand prize, a brand-new Honda motorcycle, went to Jerry Hart. Heartfelt thanks go to the ride’s task force leaders, Maxine and Rod Gilvey and Bettie and L.J. McDade, visitation leaders Linda and Richard Berner, and their hardworking volunteer task force and day-of-event volunteers, for hosting a record-breaking event. Since 1984, the national Ride for Kids® program and PBTF have promoted childhood brain tumor research and provided family support through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships. With the help of America’s motorcyclists and motorcycle dealers, PBTF has become the world’s largest nongovernmental source of funding for pediatric brain tumor research. The next Ride for Kids® events are Sunday, June 4 in Atlanta, Ga., and Richmond, Va. For more information about the Ride for Kids® and the PBTF, go to ~http://www.rideforkids.org~ or call (800) 253-6530.