For a thirty-five dollar entry fee, bikers got to fire up their motorcycles for a good cause Sunday.
Their money went toward finding a cure for pediatric brain tumors.
Some brave young patients got to ride along on a route that ran from Barber Motorsports Park into Shelby County and back to the track for a victory lap. They had support from State Troopers, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, and volunteers from event sponsor Honda.
"Honda's been part of this since about 1991 and it really is about trying to come up with a solution to try and fight this terrible disease," said Ray Perez, Honda Division Manager of Legal and Corporate Relations. "Working with Ride for Kids and these riders in the Birmingham area, it's a lot of fun to really try to make a difference. "
Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry said the Ride for Kids event means a lot to him and is a day his deputies look forward to. "You see these wonderful kids, you see the smile on their faces, what they're trying to do, the battle they're fighting and the help they're getting. That's why you're here," said Curry.
National Ride for Kids Manager, Jerry Harvey says the organization was founded by two people because of a coworker whose child died of a brain tumor.
"They started in 1984 at Road Atlanta with a hundred riders who raised $4,000," said Harvey. "There's a huge soft spot for kids with bikers."
It has been rolling ever since and has helped countless other families.
Harvey says over the past 26 years "Ride for Kids" has raised 40 million dollars for pediatric brain tumor research.
"Outside of the United States government ,we're the world's largest provider of pediatric brain tumor research funding. Ninety-eight percent of that money comes from the Ride for Kids program," said Harvey.
Sunday they raised $90,000 according to an event spokesperson.
There are around forty different
Ride for Kids fundraisers across the nation each year.
