Ride for Kids®

benefiting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation®

We ride to cure the kids!

Motorcyclists brought $43,057 in donations to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s final Ride for Kids event of 2012 yesterday. The Tampa Bay Area event supported young brain tumor survivors like Trinity, Chiara, Michael, Andriana and Gina.

These Ride for Kids stars joined 275 other participants at the Heinrich Training Center in Lithia for a foggy ride through farms and orange groves. Skies were sunny when they returned, and the riders heard from the kids as well as a doctor who treats brain tumor patients.

The PBTF funds research that is changing how children are treated, said Dr. Stacie Stapleton, director of pediatric neuro-oncology at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. “We can now take a sample of the tumor, test it and tell the parents their child doesn’t need radiation, that chemo will be the better treatment,” she said.

Tampa Bay’s top fundraisers were:

• Individual: Scott Koenig, $2,974
• Motorcycle club/chapter: GWRRA FL-1M, $10,867
• Motorcycle business: Hap’s Cycle Sales, $15,703
• Special organization: In Memory of Aaron Jones, $7,878

Theresa Molkentin won the drawing for a new Honda motorcycle. Other winners were Phillip Waquespack (AGV helmet), Sharon Dunn (Dunlop tire), Anna Tidd (Tourmaster luggage) and Helen Norman (Cardo Scala Rider).

The Tampa Bay Ride for Kids was organized by local volunteers, led by Norm and Margaret Van Dame, Jim and Rebecca Iverson, and Hayden and Anne Cameron. The 2013 event is planned for Sunday, Nov. 3.