I've been contacted by Cicely Salatino at Honda HQ in Torrance about their upcoming Ride for Kids that will happening on May 2nd. This benefits the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Great cause and good ride. Here are the details, given to me by Mrs. Salatino:
"The ride starts at the Honda campus (1919 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90501) at 10am, and registration opens at 8am. I know some of your riders trailer their scooters in, and you can definitely do that for this ride. The tough part is that they line the bikes up in the parking lot as you arrive, so if you want to ride with your group you need to arrive together. Those that trailer their scooters can come straight to Honda and get set up in the car parking area. Most groups plan a meeting spot and then arrive together, usually closer to 9am. But as I mentioned the later you arrive the farther back you'll be in the line so I recommend getting there as early as possible.
As soon as you arrive on campus you'll be asked to sign an AMA waiver and receive a wristband. Then you'll have to walk over to the registration tent to register and turn in any donations. The minimum donation is $35 per motorcycle/scooter and you'll receive a ride pin in addition to being able to participate in the ride. They have pretty cool premiums if you raise more money. It takes $50 to get a ride shirt and then they have hats & vests & jackets, etc.. For every $300 in donations you bring you receive a raffle ticket for a drawing to win a new Honda motorcycle.
After registration your group will also want to register their donations with your club. They keep track of all the different clubs that participate, and the top three clubs receive recognition at the post-ride celebration. Last year the top fund-raiser, Scotty's Riders Club, raised $57,000 and the second place club raised $13,000.
There's food (bagels, bread, pastries) and coffee available in the morning and the Victor McLaglen group does a cool stunt show. Then at 9:45am everyone suits up and gets ready to start. I think this year we head down Torrance Blvd. to Catalina, then the Esplanade, then up to PV Blvd, around the peninsula, and straight down Western back to Honda.
The ride ends around 11:30am, and after parking everyone heads back to the tent for a free lunch (from Subway this year) and the celebration. They introduce some of the kids (brain tumor survivors), announce the top fund-raisers, and draw the winning raffle ticket. It ends by around 1pm.
This is one of 40 rides they coordinate across the country every year. The funds raised go to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, which raises money for research grants, family support, and college scholarships for children affected by brain tumors. It's a wonderful cause and the spirit at the event is just amazing.
If anyone under 18 wants to participate as a rider or passenger a legal guardian MUST be there to sign the consent form. They don't have to ride with the guardian, we just need the release signed.
Let me know if you need any more info as well. Check out the facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/rideforkids
Website: http://www.pbtfus.org/rideforkids/calendar/2010/losangeles.html
Thanks!
Cicely Salatino
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501
