Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128332
FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS PHOTO BY GOLD & GOOS E Two of the co untry' s mos t majestic mo untain ranges played host to the june 26-27 weekend 's Ride for Kids events in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Golde n, Colorado. Since 1984, the Ride for Kids program has raised funds to support the research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundat ion. In con junction with the 2004 Honda Hoot , the fourth annual Knoxville Ride for Kids took place on Saturday, june 26. After a soggy start to the week, with Knoxville experiencing the largest recorded rainfall in a single day the day before the ride , the motorcyclists enjoyed a cool and dry ride through the Great Smoky Mountains as they made the ir way to Douglas Dam via the tree-lined Tennessee countryside. The 325 motorcyclists, volunteers, fundra isers and patient families gathe red for the ride were thrilled to learn that they had raised a to tal of $72 ,218 for pediat ric brain tumor research. jessica S. and jessica Q .. both young brain tumor survivors, were at the 2003 Knoxville Ride for Kids and are smitten with motorcycles. jess ica S. once again confirmed her zeal for motorcycles by saying to the audience gathered unde r the "Big Top Tent," "I think I like riding motorcycles better than my horse." jessica Q . thanked Kathy, he r VIP motorcycle escort, for playing the kind of music she liked to listen to during the ir ride . Dawn, a blind brain tumor survivor who has never been to a Ride for Kids event before, thanked everyone for what she te rmed an awesome ride. She then explained how he r see ing-eye dog Barkley walked across the stage in his own special graduation cap at her high school graduation. All three young ladies thanked the motorcycl ists and fundraisers for the ir hard work and for raising money for the Pediatric Brain Tumo r Foundat ion. Dr. Ray Pais, a pediatric oncologist and veteran of several Knoxville Ride for Kids events, was on hand to share the importance of childhood brain tumor research with the riders . A little more tha n I300 miles across the country, on Sunday, june 27, the first Colorado Ride for Kids took place . The 3 18 motorcyclists, volunteers, fundraisers and patient families who gathered for the event enjoyed coo l, dry beautiful we ather for this special occas ion. With the splendid Rockies as a backdrop, the riders set off on a police-escorted ride th rough spectacular Dee r Creek Canyon , including winding past the famous "Tiny Town," the oldest "Kid Size Village and Railroad in the USA." Unde r the "Big Top Tent," during the Celebration of Life program, the dedicated motorcyclists learned that they raised $36 ,058 for childhood brain tumo r res earch. Robin Strecker, an RN in a local children's hospital neu ro- oncology departme nt, was on hand to share with the participants the importance of ped iatric brain tumor research. Twelve-year old Devin, a young brain tumor survivor, and his family we re also there to participate in the cele bration . "Normally when we show up. we do not get a stand ing ovation!" commented Sgt. Paul Smoke r with the jeffe rson County Sheriff's Departme nt. He continued tha t it was an honor and a privilege for his de part me nt to be involved with the Colorad o Ride for Kids eve nt and that they wo uld be back again next year. For more information abo ut the Ride for Kids, please call (800) 253-6530 or visit www. ridefor kids.org. To cast your vote, log on to www.cyclenews.com. WEb INSiYE CycienEWs.com r eader poll qu estion of t he w eek a;.~~:::.;~ Which of the following " u nd e rd og" machines in MotoGP do you think w ill win a rac e first? A. Ducati B. Kawasaki C. Proton D. Suzuki On-line poll results from last week Which of the following new '05 motocross models are you the most interes ted in read ing about? Suzuki's RM-Z45 0 fo ur-st ro ke 2534 (53.43%) Yamaha's alu m lnum-fram edYZ250 two-stroke 13 12 (27. 66%) Yamaha's a luminum-framed YZ 125 two-stroke 5 16 ( 10.88%) Kawasaki's new KX25 0 two-stroke 38 1 (8.03%) Total Replies: 4743 www.cycienEWs.com CYCLE NEWS • JUL 14, 2004 Y 105