Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation® (PBTF) Ride for Kids® events in Texas, California and Nevada raised a total of $281,647 for medical research and family support yesterday. Texans collect more than $130,000 Hundreds of riders from the Dallas/Fort Worth area raised $131,206 at the area’s eighth Ride for Kids® on Oct. 3. Their efforts support the PBTF’s programs to help brain tumor survivors like scholarship recipients Nora and Rachel, along with Cristina, Cassie, Kami, Summer, Josephine, Dani, Benjamin, Autumn, John Henry, Ethan and Rebecca, all of whom took part in the event at Grapevine Mills. The riders enjoyed a rural route, passing many horse ranches along the way before returning for the Celebration of Life program. The young people talked about life as survivors, while Dr. Joann Sanders and Dr. Dan Bowers of Cook Children’s Medical Center discussed the importance of research. “Children are continuing to struggle with the side effects and that’s not good enough,” said Bowers, director of the childhood brain tumor program. “We must find a cure. Together we will.” The event’s leading fundraisers were: * Individual: Sam Caine & Kathy Bracken, $24,710 * Club/Chapter: Caden Johnson Memorial Fund, $34,067 * Motorcycle Business: Maxim Honda, $24,413 Special thanks went to the event’s all-volunteer task force, led this year by Gary and Julie Touchstone, Jeff Latimer, Fetch Daniel and Gen White. A reason to celebrate in Northern California Three hundred participants at the 18th Northern California Ride for Kids® in Fairfield raised $100,525 for the PBTF. Nine brain tumor survivors””Elias, Darren, Reiana, Malcolm, Richey, Vanessa, Jalen, Mario and Tobin””joined the riders at Solano Community College. Many of them led the ride, which passed vineyards, crystal blue lakes, rivers, mountains and farms. At the Celebration of Life that followed, the crowd heard from stars like 12-year-old Malcolm. “Thank you riders for all your hard work and donating money for this cause,” he said. “It will help kids in the future.” His mother, Leslie, agreed. “You don’t know from day to day what normal is going to be,” she said. “Malcolm’s normal is better than most thanks to Ride for Kids.” The top fundraisers were: * Individual: Ann & Kirk Harry, $22,000 * Club/Chapter: Curve Unit, $11,325 * Motorcycle Business: Hillside Honda, $9,287 Many thanks went to the hardworking volunteers who organized the event. This year’s leaders were Lillian and Jack Cushman, Kathy and Jon Carlson, and Steve Long. Riders on a roll in Vegas The Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted its sixth Ride for Kids® on Oct. 3, raising $49,916 for the PBTF. A crowd of 400 came out to support eight local brain tumor survivors””Cheyenne, Devin, Bradley, Nicole, Hannah, Alex, Brandon and Nico. Many of these “stars” joined the ride for a lap around the speedway, then headed to a new end point, Mountain Crest Park. After the ride, the Celebration of Life program gave participants a chance to learn more about the struggle these children and their families endure. “These children are not only just cancer patients, they are someone’s daughter or son,” said Tammy, whose daughter died of a brain tumor. “This is not just a Sunday ride, this ride makes a difference.” Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, a pediatric oncologist at Sunrise Hospital, was also on hand to discuss how the PBTF supports research. The fundraisers leading the way in Las Vegas were: * Individuals: Frank & Nico Giordano, $5,845 * Club/Chapter: Buffalo Soldiers, $4,280 * Motorcycle Business: Carter Powersports, $20,683 This event was planned by many local volunteers, led this year by Charli and Dave Carter, Philip and Michelle Tripi, Tami Belt, Frank and Linda Kostelac, and Susan Clift. 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. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Honda Riders Club of America, and our national insurance sponsor, GEICO. The 2010 Ride for Kids® season continues on Oct. 17 with rides in Knoxville, Phoenix and San Diego. For more information, go to ~http://www.rideforkids.org/~ or call 800-253-6530.