Please read! Ride for Kids 2015: Motorcyclists help fight pediatric brain tumors!

[ViperWolf]

Good Morning Spyderlovers,

I really hope you read this post........

My username here is Viperwolf, however my real name is Wilson Matthews and I live in Nashville TN. I am a helicopter flight nurse at Vanderbilt University, my wife is a school teacher and we have 3 children: 14 year old identical twin daughter's (Madison and Makenzie) and an 11 year old son (Justin.) I have been a member of Spyderlovers for about 3 years. I am on the site often, but am an infrequent poster. I don't have a Can Am yet, I continue to s-l-o-w-l-y save for one and am excited to hopefully buy one in the next couple of years. My challenge is that a $20K toy for Dad is quite low on the family funding priority list. I'm sure some of you can understand that! My goal has been the ST-S but now the new F3 is tempting me too. I'm scheduled to take a demo of the F3 at America's Motorsports in Nashville in a few weeks. I can't wait to try it out!

I want to share with all of the Spyderlovers about a motorcycle event that has become quite important to me called the Ride for Kids.
The Ride for Kids program is a national series of motorcycle rides that supports the work of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Their mission is to eliminate the challenges of childhood brain tumors by funding medical research and family support programs. When Ride for Kids began in 1984, the diagnosis of a child’s brain tumor was a virtual death sentence. Because there was very little research being done into the disease, treatments were ineffective or harsh, and most children did not survive to adulthood.

Since then, motorcyclists have helped the PBTF change that reality.

Motorcyclist's efforts have made the PBTF the world’s largest non-governmental funder of pediatric brain tumor research. From developing improved treatment options to offering college scholarships to brain tumor survivors, Ride for Kids is dedicated to making a difference in children’s lives. In 2015, Ride for Kids celebrates its 32nd year of raising awareness and funds. Fun-filled, family-friendly rides will take place in 37 locations across the country, featuring moving stories from local brain tumor survivors and their families.

I hope this post causes some of you to investigate this event and consider participating. You can find information about your closest Ride For Kids at this website: curethekids.org

I mentioned that this event has become important to me because one of my daughters is a pediatric brain tumor survivor.

In 3rd grade Makenzie was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. Her tumor resection surgery was 14 hours long, she woke up from that surgery blind, unable to walk, spoke in baby talk and needed help to feed herself. She underwent 6 weeks of brain and spine radiation, then 18 months of chemotherapy at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Needless to say it's been a long journey for our family.

The good news is Makenzie is doing great today! We are past the 5 year post treatment landmark and she remains cancer free. Her vision returned a week after surgery and with several years of therapy and rehab she's steady on her feet again. She's now an honor roll freshman in high school, has been part of a competitive swim team, plays in a recreational girl's basketball league and is on the school drama team where she performed in Grease last fall, and is presently rehearsing The Wizard of Oz for a spring production.

Makenzie has developed a passion for raising funds to support research to eliminate kid's brain tumors. To quote her from a TV interview she did last year, "I raise money for research, so other kids don't have to go through what I did." Four years ago she held her inaugural "Kenzie's Car Wash 4 A Cure" and managed to raise over $3000.00 for the PBTF. In 2013 her car wash raised just over $9000.00, and last year (2014) her Car Wash 4 A Cure caused significant traffic problems on a main road in our home town because so many people were coming to participate. We washed 180+ cars, several fire engines and a LifeFlight helicopter landed and her car wash quickly converted to a "helicopter wash!" Those efforts and some collection jars strategically placed at locally owned businesses around town added up to a total of $10,185.43. All in all she's right at about $25,000.00 donated to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Our family participates in the Middle Tennessee Ride, and it's at that event where we turn in her proceeds. She's been the #2 fund raiser for the past two years, second only to Hardee's. This past January Makenzie along with her twin sister and younger brother were featured speakers at the PBTF's National Conference held in Charlotte NC. This year her car wash in on May 2nd, and we will turn in all donations at the Middle TN Ride for Kids on May 17th.

I would like to invite everyone to help this great cause in one of two ways. First, visit curethekids.org and register/participate in your closest Ride for Kids event. All rides have police escorts, are endorsed by the American Motorcyclist Association and are nationally sponsored by Geico motorcycle insurance, CycleWorld magazine and Honda.

The second way to help is a challenge from me to all the Spyderlovers out there, and is a bit more personal.

Makenzie is hoping this years car wash total will beat last year's total, and has set her goal at $10,200.00!

You can help her progress toward that goal by contributing to her "virtual car wash" by donating through her Ride For Kids personal page at: http://pbtf.convio.net/goto/kenziescarwash

It's a secure web site that will accept all major credit/debit cards, and all dontations are tax deductible.

Also, you can mail a check to made out to Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and mail to:

Kenzie's Car Wash for A Cure
2120 Brookstone Drive
Mt. Juliet TN 37122

Please help spread the word and share this post via email, facebook, instagram, etc.

Thank you so much for your consideration and ryde safely.

Wilson (Viperwolf) Matthews

[Chupaca]

Thanks for the thread. SRA San Diego has been involved with the ride for kids for many years. It is our biggest ryde and we raise funds with every ryde. Our ryde is in September but we raise funds all year. Looking forward to this years ryde for this most worthy cause...

[bronzeflex42]

Viperwolf great post you have an strong and awesome kid there. God bless you Makenzie and your family and hope you go above your goal. My donation will be sent from GA..

[Don in E Texas]

Can Am came to Houston a couple of years ago - purchased breakfast for all Spyder riders plus covered the entry fee. Had a great ride - all for a good cause.
Thank you Can Am.

Don

[ViperWolf]

I hope you both get to go to your city's Ride for Kids again this year!

please spread the word!